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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 

\l UNITED STATES OE AMERICA. I 



^ 



''W 



THE 



TRAYELING REFUGEE; 



OR THE 



CAUSE AND CURE OF THE REBELLION 



IN THE 

UNITED STATES; 

EMBRACING^ A SKETCH 

OF THE 

STATE OF SOCIETY IN THE SOUTH, 

BEFORE, AND AT THE COMMENCEMENT 

OF THE REBELLION. 
BY KEY. ZENAS E. FEEMSTEE, REFUaEE, 

FROM MISSISSIPPI, IN 1862. 



^.>>' 

f'^- 



SPRINGFIELD, ILLS. 
STEAM PRESS OF BAKER & PHILLIPS. 

1865, 



r 



Coi 






Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1865, by Zenas 
E. Fbemster, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the 
United States for the Southern District of Illinois. 



PREFACE. 



Questions, siicli as the following, will no doubt often be 
asked : 

Of what does your book treat ? "Whcit gave rise to it, 
and what is the object of it? 

The title page furnishes a clue to the proper answer ; to 
which I briefly add, that if I know my own heart the prime 
object has been to do my duty to Grod, myself and my fellow 
beings, and to promote the general welfare of my country, 
politically, morally and religiously: to advance the tempo- 
ral, spiritual and eternal interests of the human family. 

The circumstances which have surrounded me where my 
lot has been cast, have circumscribed my opportunities for 
usefulness, in this line, to very narrow limits, which has 
been a source of mortification of feeling and anxiety of 
mind. These things, in connection with other considera- 
tipns, led me to this work, with the hope that through this 
medium I might have access for good to the minds of many, 
whom otherwise I never could reach, and thus benefit some 
where my face can never be seen, nor my voice be heard ; 
and that, too, when the footsteps of time, in its long march, 
shall have so erased from earth the visible signs of its pres- 
ent inhabitants that the resting places of most of their mor- 
tal remains will be unknown to the living. 

As this work contains over twice as much as at first was 
anticipated, I find, on reviewing my labor, that some of the 
subjects might be condensed and the work abreviated and 
improved by a reconstruction of some of its parts, which 
my circumstances will not permit me to do. 

I am aware that the work abounds with imperfections, 
and that there may be many things in it to which men of 



[iv] 

science and taste can take exception ', yet, I flatter myself 
that if subjected to a scientific ordeal, the unfavorable cir- 
cumstances under which it was written, while changing from 
place to place, often surrounded with scenes of noise and 
confusion, and other contingencies calculated to perplex and 
distract the mind, in connection with the following facts, 
will afford a sufficient apology to screen those imperfections 
from the severe censure of the scientific ; at least the libe- 
ral and generous among them who have been favored with 
superior advantages. 

I was born in South Corolina, A. D. 1813. Was taken 
by my parents to Tennessee in 1819, and to the state of 
Mississippi i in 1820. Went to school about three months 
in the summer and fall of 1824, and about the same length 
of time in the winter of 1830, and acquired the remainder 
of my education at home. In July, 1862 went to Illinois; 
in the following spring went to, and spent several weeks with 
the Union soldiers, at Corinth and Glendale, Mississippi, 
returned in the summer to Illinois, and spent from that 
time to this date in Illinois and Indiana. 

March 31, 1865. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

Chapter I. — State of Society in the South before the Rebel- 
lion 9 

Chaptef^ II. — Slavery and Condition of Slaves in the South — 
the General Opinion of People Concerning the Institution 
— Ways of Justifying it — Notions Concerning the Capaci- 
ties and Origin of the Negro 43 

Chapter III. — Personal Concerns and Incidents 53 

Chapter IV. — Incidents Illustrating the Notions of Southern 
People at the Beginning of the Confederacy 69 

Chapter V. — Time, Manner and Circumstance of Escape 
from the South — Incidents by the Way — At the Union Lines 
— Meeting with Refugee Friends 92 

Chapter VI. — Occurrences on the Way from Tuscumbia, Ala., 
to Mount Zion, 111 113 

Chapter VII. — First fall and Winter's Experience in the 
North — Return to Corinth — Incidents of the Way 124 

Chapter VHP. — Occurrences at Corinth and Glendale — Dis- 
tressing News from Home — Return to Macon Co., Ill -. 131 

Chapter IX. — Travels and Occurrences in the North — From 
Indiana to Southern Illinois — Letters from a Nephew forced 
into Service in the Union Army, at Camp Davis, Miss 146 

Chapter X. — Incidents of Travels while Canvassing Kansas, 
Grandview, Embarrass and Buck Townships in Edgar Co., 
Ill 169 

Chapter XI. — Cause, Cure and Prevention of Division, War 

and National Calamity 176 

The Egyptian Song 181 

Refugees Parody 186 

Parting Scene 187 

Wandering Refugee 190 

Prospective Vision 193 

*— 1 



Those who abide in my word, 

Are my disciples indeed, 
And those who believe in the Lord, 

Thereby are Abraham's seed. 

Those who obey his holy word, 

(Let him that readeth understand,) 

Shall see the glory of the Lord, 
And eat the good of all the land. 

Now he that hath ears let him hear, 

But if they refuse and rebel. 
Remember the truth that I say, 

The sword shall their wickedness quell, 
Devour and take them away, 

Upon them shall he their own fear ! 



THE TRAVELmG REFUGEE. 



CHAPTER I. 

STATE OF SOCIETY IN THE SOUTH BEFORE THE REBELLION. 

For the space of twenty years past, or more, it appears 
that morality has generally been on the decline in the south, 
though in many localities there have been happy exceptions, 
where progress and improvement have developed them- 
selves; yet these exceptions were so few and far between, as 
to afford but little restraint upon society. Though the 
youth had many advantages for scientific and literary attain- 
ments above their parents, yet, with a supposed higher and 
more refined state of society, scripture morality was falling 
into disrepute. The young generally manifested little re- 
gard and veneration for the aged; and though the curse of 
God is pronounced against those who set lightly by father 
or mother, yet those who did so were evidently becoming 
very numerous, and those who cursed them were not a few, 
and the number that vainly used the name of the Lord, 
among some professed Christians, was not small, while 
many were guilty of the sin of intoxication. Parental au- 
thority over their children was exercised to a very limited 
extent, and children, at a very early period, thought them- 
selves beyond the time of chastisement, and parental re- 
straint, and soon concluded that they must have a purse of 
their own, have a claim to property, and exercise authority, 
while popular custom authorized and encouraged the prac- 



10 

tice. They professed themselves superior to, and often mis- 
treated those whom they frequently compelled to participate 
in the most degrading vices. Thereby, the downtrodden 
victims of their wickedness were subjected to a mortifying 
sense of their unavoidable degradation. Yet many such oc- 
cupied high places, figured largely and made a display in so- 
ciety, though destitute of virtue, pride of character and all 
the principles of elevated humanity. 

Thus, a part of the inhabitants of the south, whose guilt 
or misfortune it was to have a black skin, or to have de- 
scended from those who had, were placed under circumstan- 
ces calculated to corrupt, and crush out every principle and 
mark of moral honesty or excellence. A gross departure 
from the pure principles of refinement, (mildness, kindness 
and gentleness of manners,) extensively prevailed among 
the young of all classes, both bond and free. The aged of 
both classes would generally meet each other with marks of 
respect and civility, kindly giving place to the just, equal 
rights of others, manifesting a disposition to impart any use- 
ful information they could that might be desired; while the 
young would expect others to give place to them, though 
much older than themselves; and would frequently give 
rough and impolite answers to civil questions, and rough sal- 
utations to those whom they met. They were impatient un- 
dey restraint, easily provoked, disposed to impose much on 
others, restless under rebuke and despisers of reproof. They 
were quick to find fault with others, but would bear but lit- 
tle themselves. The Sabbath was a day little regarded by a 
majority of the people, as the holy of the Lord, honorable, 
and by which they would honor him, not doing their own 
ways, nor finding their own pleasure, nor speaking their own 
words : while a few spent the day in attending church and 
in religious employments at home, but more spent their 
Sabbaths in visiting, sleeping, worldly conver sation, gam- 
ing, hunting, frolicing or attending market. 

No sacred day of just employ, 

For heavenly treasure ; 
A chosen time for carnal joy, 

And sensual pleasure. 

The Sabbath in the south was often a hard day on the 
sick, the waiter and the cook. It was quite common with 
some to congregate on the Sabbath for singing ; and if a 
teacher taught on the Sabbath day gratis, he was considered 



11 

quite generous for giving a day that did not belong to him, 
though he thereby robbed God. Sometimes singing associa- 
tions, though good in their place, became so absorbing as to 
supercede, to some extent, the Gospel ministry. Crowds 
would attend them, even from a distance, to the neglect of 
the Gospel. Anything that is substituted for a divine insti- 
tution must meet with the Divine disapprobation. 

The use of profane language was shockingly and shame- 
fully prevalent in the south. 

Fornication and adultery were developed, not only in the 
varied shades of servants, but in numerous other things that 
were astonishing and mortifying to the pure minded. 

The excess of vanity and fashion, that added nothing to 
decency, convenience or comfort, the saving of labor, time 
or expense, swept all before it — like the frogs of Egypt, de- 
filing every place with their pollution. Yet there were those 
who lamented it, and raised their voice against it, feeling 
the necessity of temperance in all things ; and were willing, 
to some extent, to be counted singular for the sake of divine 
precepts, though their names should be cast out as eviL 

The forms of religion were in the various denominations; 
and doubtless there were many truly pious and useful mem- 
bers in every relation, who would have been an honor to 
good society in any age or country. And some churches 
and congregations appeared to be generally composed of such ; 
yet these were great exceptions to the general state of things, 
making the Scriptures the rule to judge by; for while in 
many places the people were nearly all professors of religion 
and members of some church, the state of things that exist- 
ed among them generally, was but too well described by the 
prophets. 

In speaking of the corrupt and backslidden state of reli- 
gion, Isaiah says, chap. I, 21, 22, 23, "How is the faithful 
city become a harlot. It was full of judgment, righteous- 
ness lodged in it ; but now murderers. Thy silver is become 
dross, thy wine mixed with water ; thy princes are rebel- 
lious, and companions of thieves ; every one loveth gifts 
and followeth after rewards; they judge not the fatherless, 
neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.^' 
Sam. lY, 1, says: "How is the gold become dim; how is 
the most fine gold changed. The precious sons of Zion, 
comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen 
pitchers. He that departeth from iniquity maketh himself 



12 

a prey." And Paul says in II Timotliy, III chap, : " For 
men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, 
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, un- 
holy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accu- 
sers, incontinent, fierce despisers of those that are good, 
traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasure more than 
lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the 
power thereof/^ In Jer. IX, 2, it is said : " Oh ! that I 
had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men ; that 
I might leave my people and go from them, for they be all 
adulterers and a,ssembly of treacherous men. They bend 
their tongue like their bow, for lies ; but they are not val- 
iant for the truth upon the earth, for they proceed from evil 
to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord. Take heed 
every man of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother ; 
for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor 
will walk with slanderers ; and they will deceive every one 
his neighbor, and will not speak the truth ; they have taught 
their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit 
iniquity; one speaketh peaceably with his neighbor, but 
with his heart he layeth his wait." 

Many made show of religion when at church, especially on 
revival occasions, as they were called, but on other occasions 
were hard to distinguish from non-professors. Frequently 
the difference could be discerned only on sacramental occa- 
sions. They were as anxious about the things of the world, 
their conversation as much about them, and in their lives as 
much. Conformed to its maxims, fashions and practice as 
others. They could well afford to be religious, while they 
were not thereby prevented from carrying the world in their 
arms, enjoying its treasures, honors and pleasures, and were 
not required to walk after the example, and according to the 
precepts of Christ and his apostles ; or to bear the cross and 
deny themselves of all ungodlinoss and worldly lusts, as 
taught by him who came not to do his own pleasure, but 
the will of Him who sent him, and to take upon him the 
form of a servant and became poor, that we through his 
poverty might be made rich. Thereby, they were liable 
to become unpopular, and lose the friendship of the 
world, to be reproached and have their names cast out as 
evil. They were soon offended, and the church, and the 
cause of Christ, might take care of themselves. Many of 
those who were liable to church censure, would apply for a 



13 

recommendation or dismissal, that they might join other 
churches, many of which were willing to receive them, in 
order to swell their number. Many had great zeal in pro- 
moting the interests of the sect to which they belonged, in 
defending their peculiar doctrines and practices, making 
converts to their party. Their spirits were stirred within 
them at anything said or done against them ; while they 
could see the weightier matters of the law disregarded, and 
Gospel precepts trampled upon ; and even participate in the 
same without having their religious feelings mortified. 

It had long been customary, at certain seasons of the 
year, to hold camp, or protracted meetings, to which they 
looked forward for revivals, and the idea was growing more 
general that these were the only occasions on which much 
good was to be accomplished ; and little was expected from 
a single sermon, or one day's meeting ; and hence, they were, 
to a great extent, unprepared for obtaining a blessing by 
them. But camp meetings, once so abundantly marked 
with the manifestations of the presence and the blessing of 
God, when they were devoted wholly to His service, had be- 
come so perverted that they were almost entirely dispensed 
with, from the fact, that instead of being a time devoted ex- 
clusively to His worship and cause, they were times of dis- 
play, feasting and the entertainment of friends, among the 
fashionable. These meetings became the resort of the vile, 
seeking pleasure and amusements in the indulgence of their 
appetites and passions, and added greatly to the burdens of 
those by whom supplies and accommodations were provided. 
Then came protracted meetings, with the growing persuasion 
that they were mainly to be depended upon for revivals, 
conversions, &c. To these the people of the surrounding 
neighborhood went, with provisions for themselves. This 
they called a basket meeting or dinner, of which they all 
partook during the intervals of worship. Dinner was some- 
times placed upon a common table, and a general invitation 
given to all present to come and partake. Here some made 
a great display of generosity in distributing that among 
their friends which they themselves had not provided ; and 
was frequently an occasion for unpleasant feelings. At other 
times they would go to their wagons, carriages, and cho- 
sen places, and invite and select their guests. Here, too, 
often were seen selfishness, ostentation and pride ) those foul 
worms whose touch defiles and blasts every benevolent, mor- 
—2 



14 

al and religious enterprise ; mars every good work, and poi- 
sens every cup of heavenly bliss. It was evident that many 
of the attendants were like the Jews, of whom the Savior 
said, they follow him, not because they saw his miracles, but 
for the loaves and fishes. People were getting too nice and 
fine to carry supplies with them to sustain nature till they 
returned home, as they formerly did, when they thought 
more of their souls, and less of their appetites and dress. 
Those who furnished supplies for those at a distance, often 
entertained many who were as convient as themselves ; and 
if this were not done feelings were injured, and remarks 
made, not intended to add to honor or respectability. It 
was also customary in some places, when meetings were held 
for preaching at private houses, that so many remained for 
dinner that it became a very heavy tax on the good man of 
the house ; so that judicious, humane ministers were con- 
strained sometimes to discontinue their appointments, rather 
than to give occasion for the poor but warm hearted friends 
to the cause of Christ to be so wantonly imposed upon, by 
the unprincipled, thoughtless and imprudent. 

While things were going on in this way, and the minds of 
men much absorbed in the general pursuit of wealth, fash- 
ionable display, pleasure and sensual indulgence, the senti- 
ment prevailed among many of the ministers, as well as with 
the common people, that nothing could effect any good with 
the people then, but something of the most stirring, impres- 
sive and startling nature ; hence sermons and forms of reli- 
gious services were gotten up, with an eye to moving upon 
and exciting the passions ; and many institutions were adop- 
ted, and secret organizations, promising greatly to improve 
and ameliorate the condition of man, and advance the cause 
of religion. It was also quite evident that while these 
things were progressing, a departure from the primitive pu- 
rity and simplicity of the Gospel, and strict conformity to 
Bible precept were making equal advances. True religion, 
with a consistent daily walk in the life and power of the 
same, was superceded by a profession without fruits meet for 
repentance, and a form of godliness without the power ; as 
the latter rose and progressed, the former fell and lost repu- 
tation and respectability ; just as the customs, doctrines and 
traditions of men were put in the place of the institutions 
and doctrines of Christ; just in proportion as they trusted 
to man and his devices, instead of God and his appointed 



15 

means, and also, departed from the fountain of living waters 
and hewed out cisterns of their own. 

Many very exciting discourses and excuses were resorted 
to to get up revivals or religious excitement, while the plain 
instructions which ignorant people always need, were very 
much neglected ; and more was done to move feelings and 
excite passions, than to instruct and enlighten the mind and 
correct the judgment with regard to the fundamental doc- 
trines of the Gospel. Hence, the notion too generally pre- 
vailed that religion consists \\\\ strong feeling and lively fan- 
cies, instead of a radical change of heart, and an abiding 
and established principle of holiness and rectitude, produced 
and kept up by the word and spirit of God and the co-ope- 
ration of man, by acquiescence in the Divine will. 

Many revivals of this kind were gotten up from year to 
year, and many were reported to have been converted at 
those meetings, insomuch that in some places, for a while af- 
ter those occasions, nearly all were professors of religion. 
But it oftegi so happened that in less than a year, and some- 
times, in a few weeks, a large portion of them were ready 
for the same process again, and occupying a looser and wild- 
er position in society than before ; yet frequently, in the 
course of a few years, making new professions of religion, 
and joining sometimes the same, and sometimes another 
church, and, in some instances, taking a stand on the side of 
infidelity, professing to have experienced all that anyone 
else had,, and to know that it was all a delusion, without any 
reality in it. 

Sometimes those great and far-famed revivalists brought 
such reproach upon the cause as much aided the preten- 
sions of apostates to infidelity, who, as the apostle said, if 
they had been of us, would, no doubt, have remained with 
us. 

When those revivals were in progress, persons who kept 
within the bounds of moderation were looked upon by many 
as cold hearted, formal and unfeeling, and as weak and not 
very bright christians ; while those who made much noise 
and show, and were very forward, in the popular way, were 
the ones to be trusted to for effecting much in the way of 
conversions. The man who had a strong voice, and could 
speak and sing loudly, and make a great show of feeling, 
tell a moving story and teach repentance (undefined,) fer- 
vent, persevering prayer, &c., but said little to move the 



16 

conscience, convict of sin, and lead to true penitence and 
submission to Christ — was the great preacher with the ma- 
jority; while those who contrasted the heart ..and. actions of 
man with the word of Grod, and showed what man in his un- 
renewed state is, by nature and by practice; and what he 
must be by grace, to be happy in the presence and govern- 
ment of God ] that the rebel against the Divine government 
must lay down his weapons of rebellion, surrender himself 
to the Lord, accept of salvation at his hand, as a free un- 
merited gift, acquiescing in the Divine plan, trusting in 
Christ as his only Savior, confiding in his atonement made 
on the cross as the only meritorious grounds of hope, of par- 
don and salvation, and that upon this condition-, which is 
FAITH, or BELIEVING IN Christ, he enters into a covenant 
relation with God, which secures renovation or sanctification 
to the believer, whereby he becomes a new creatiire in Christ 
Jesus ; renewed in the temper and spirit of his mind to the 
moral image of God, with the law Avritten in his heart, 
which gives a delight in, and a desire to practice ^hat which 
is holy, just and good ; a qualification, without which no 
man can enjoy fellowship with God, or be happy in time or 
eternity. And until our pride is so humbled, our stubborn, 
self-willed, rebellious disposition, so subdued and broken 
down, that we renounce the world, give up our sinful pleas- 
ures and pursuits, and honestly and heartily commit and 
submit ourselves to Christ, no longer to be our own, but the 
servants of him who has bought us with his own blood, and 
thus, so far, become partakers with the divine nature or the 
spirit of Christ ) that we can deny ourselves, take up our 
cross and follow him through evil or good report, it mat- 
ters not what our feelings, religious professions and preten- 
sions may be, our hope is built upon a sandy foundation, and 
is a delusion that will leave us a wretched wreck of ruins 
and hopeless disappointment. The man who did as the 
prophets were directed to do, (Isa. LVIII. " Cry aloud 
and spare not ; lift up thy voice like a trumpet and show my 
people their transgressions." Ezra XXXIII, 6, 7,) and 
warned the people from the Lord, and honestly and faithfully 
told them the consequences of their evil ways, was often 
suspected of being personal, and generally soon became un- 
popular, and had few to hear him ; especially if he spoke 
against the sins that were highly esteemed by the devotees 
of fashion and high style of life, though ever so abominable 



17 

in tlie sight of God. But the man man who prophesied 
smooth things and deceits, healed the hurt of the daughter 
of Zion slightly, crying peace, peace, when there was no 
peace; often pronouncing those righteous whose actions soon 
proved them to be "the wicked, to whom there is no peace, 
saith my God, but they are like the troubled sea when it 
cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and dirt'^ — he was the 
people's preacher — he was the popular one, who could la- 
ment the calamity of the fall, the cruel ravages of death, 
bereaving the tender mother of her more tender and inno- 
cent offspring, severing all the tenderest ties of dearest 
friends and relations, producing the many affecting death 
bed scenes and heart rending bereavements, ushering the 
pale victim into the silent, gloomy tomb, a putrifaction and 
decomposition, but said little to reprove or rebuke sin or 
arouse the conscience of the guilty, or if he did, showed by 
his own actions a strong sympathy and lively relish for the 
same. Such a one was a chosen vessel for delivering fune- 
ral sermons ; who generally made a flattering discourse con- 
cerning the dead, and preached them safe to a better home. 

In their meetings, they often had little regard to the apos- 
tolic rule — that all things should be done decently and in 
order, and to edification — that prophets should prophesy by 
two or three, and that by turn, (one at a time.) 

Often at the close of a sermon, or a sermon and an exorta- 
tion, both of which, according to popular opinion should 
be very short, (and which frequently had as much, and 
sometimes more of the altar and anxious bench in them 
than of Christ and him crucified), an invitation would 
be given to the anxious, or seekers, to come forward 
to the altar or anxious bench, while a hymn was being sung, 
that the christians might pray far them; encouraging them 
to come forward, saying that many had obtained religion in 
that way, or by that means, and sometimes would spend as 
much time exhorting and persuading people to come for- 
ward to the altar of prayer, as they did preaching, and have 
heard the statement made : " There are persons here who 
are powerful in prayer ; they are fair Benjamites in prayer ; 
they can almost pray heaven and earth together;" and they 
were encouraged to avail themselves of so favorable an op- 
portunity. If none would come forward, then christians 
were sometimes invited to come forward, if they wished an 
interest in the prayers of the church ; and propositions were 
* — 2 



18 

offered for making vows, covenant engagements, &c. — all 
witli an eye to the great object of a revival and the conver- 
sion of sinners. 

I once witnessed the following arrangement, when pre- 
vious efforts had failed to effect the desired object; Seats 
were set apart, one for those who wished to go to heaven ; 
another for those who were determined to go to hell ; and 
each class invited to come forward and accupy his seat. 
Some coming in afterward and not knowing the arrange- 
ment, found it convenient to occupy what was called the 
devil's seat till their misfortune was revealed to them. When 
they could succeed in getting people forward, sometimes a 
prayer would be offered for them in hearing of all, so that 
all who had the heart to do so could umite and acquiesce in 
the prayer made by the leader; and all could be edified and 
say amen, at the close of the prayer ; after which some per- 
sons would go and converse with and instruct the seekers 
individually. 

But this order was often superceded by a very different 
practice: When mourners were called forward, then the 
christians were requested to come and kneel around them, 
as near as they could, then one would be called upon to 
lead in prayer, and perhaps a half or a whole dozen, or more, 
would strike in at the top of their voices, so that, unless the 
leader had a strong voice, he would be so excelled by others 
as to be heard by few. Some would be clapping their hands 
and shouting, some crying one thing and some another, and 
there was reason to fear that many of them had very few ra- 
tional, well connected thoughts upon any very profitable 
subject. 

Had the leaders themselves any very important business 
to transact, upon the correctness of which much of their 
worldly interests depended, they would have sought circum- 
stances of more quietude and composure, as the most favor- 
able to avoid the damage and loss liable to be sustained by 
error or mistake. Yet these were the scenes and circum- 
stances labored and sought for, and recommended by them 
as the most favorable for transacting that business upon 
which the eternal destiny of man is suspended. 

Frequently christians were all strongly urged to go to 
their relations, friends and neighbors, and talk with them 
and persuade them to go to be prayed for. In some instan- 
ces persons were forcibly lead forward, and sometimes the 



19 

sentence of backslider, cold hearted, graceless professor 
was passed upon sucli as would take no part in such a course, 
because they thought it unscriptural, uncalled for and unjus- 
tifiable. 

Sometimes christians generally were requested to talk to 
and instruct those who came forward for prayer. Young 
converts were encouraged to occupy this office, and also to 
lead in prayer, though sometimes among the most ignorant 
and illiterate, and destitute to a shameful degree of scripture 
knowledge ; and those who were the most forward on these 
occasions were frequently far from being the most forward 
on other occasions, to set an example consistent with, and 
honoring to their profession. 

The following are some of the instructions given on these 
occasions : Pray on mourners — pray fervently — never give 
over. Believe that the Lord will save you and he will do it. 
Surrender yourself to Christ — commit your all to him. 
Commit all into his hands, and trust to him alone. Divers 
other instructions were given, and frequently, like Job's 
messengers, before one had finished his story another would 
begin ; and he that was inquiring for the way, wishing to 
know what to do to be saved, had to make the best of the 
mixture he could, and according to his faith, so went the 
case with him ; whether he trusted to his own, or other 
people's prayers, his feelings, repentance, or in Christ, ac- 
cording to the safety of the foundation was his hope. 

While some, to some extent, brought forth fruit meet for 
repentance, to others, it happened according to the true 
proverb of the dog and the sow, they were soon found par- 
ticipating in scenes of dissipation and excess, staggering or 
prostrate in the street or by the highway side, or in low and 
groveling deeds of trifling mischief: dishonestly and depra- 
dations upon neighbors' farms, orchards, vineyards, utensils 
for labor, unfinished work, &c. ; and it sometimes so hap- 
pened, that of such as these were those who a short time be- 
fore had more religion than they well knew what to do with; 
and by their activity and zeal, in the fashionable way, had 
procured for themselves great applause and renown, and left 
far behind in the dark shades of disrepute those whose mor- 
al and christian course in life had been like the stream that 
flows uniformly and gently forth from an unfailing fountain, 
silently imparting a refreshing and invigorating influence 
along its margin, wherever it winds its beneficent course 
among the trees, shrubs and plants of earth. 



20 

If a man was wealthy and contributed liberally to the call 
of the church, he was not in much danger of being turned 
out of the church for disorderly conduct, though quite irreg- 
ular in his conduct. But if poor, he might chance to fare 
like Jonah in the vessel. 

While some did not approve of the manner of conducting 
religious worship, and thought them anti-scriptural, without 
precept or precedent in the Bible, and productive of conse- 
quences pernicious and ruinous to pure religion and the best 
interests of the church, others thought, as did the town 
clerk of Ephesus with regard to the worship of Diana : that 
these things could not be spoken against j and like the Jews 
in the days of our Savior, who preferred the commandments 
and doctrines of men, to the commandments of God, and 
made void the law of Grod that they might keep their own 
traditions; so many appeared to prefer those arrangements 
and traditions of men, to the appointments of God, and to 
depend more upon them than upon the preaching of the 
Gospel, which was ordained to be the wisdom and power of 
God unto salvation. Many who were very tenacious of those 
customs and could not bear to hear them spoken against, 
made no matter of conscience of desecrating the Sabbath or 
taking the advantage of a neighbor in a trade, or neglecting 
to train their children, by precept and practice, to live ac- 
cording to scripture rules; and could hear the name of God 
blasphemed, see his commandments violated and trodden un- 
der foot, without manifesting much, if any, sense of morti- 
cation or disapprobation of the outrage. There were many 
perhaps in all denominations who had great zeal for the pe- 
culiar doctrines, customs and external modes of their favor- 
ite sect, while they passed lightly over many of the weight- 
ier matters of the law and Gospel; and gave little evidence 
of much experience in the life and power of true godliness. 
Yet it added much in their estimation to a man's capacity, 
intelligence, integrity and veracity to belong to their party. 
Some were depending upon their morality and upright deal- 
ing with their neighbor; some were strict keepers of the 
Sabbath, though of rare occurrence, but not very exemplary 
on other occasions — of whom it was contemptuously said : 
"They kept the Sabbath day holy and cursed all the week; 
that they were saints on the Sabbath and devils all the 
week.^^ Had they been devils all the time, it would appear 
they could have no objections to them, but being right in 



21 

one good thing, (which they ought to have done, and not to 
have left the others undone), in this they were a reproof to 
those who were opposed to being restrained on the Sabbath; 
and, in reality, they disliked them on that account, and not 
so much because they did wrong all the week, as because 
they did right on the Sabbath, which was a favorite time 
with them to do wrong, when perhaps if they had learned 
the true reason of their heartfelt opposition to those hypo- 
crites, as they called them, they would have found it really 
was the same that Cain had for killing his brother. 

There was often a show of great zeal among most denom- 
inations for benevolent or missionary operations, foreign and 
domestic. Societies called benevolent were organized to aid 
in this noble enterprise, for its more successful accomplish- 
ment. While there was a great zeal to send missionaries to 
educate and enlighten those who were perishing for lack of 
knowledge, also for furnishing every family at home, who 
would accept of it, with a copy of the scriptures, there was 
a class whose labors provided the principal means of benev- 
olence in the country, for whose benefit laws were enacted 
to prevent them from being educated, so as to enable the 
men to read, and thereby instruct themselves in the doc- 
trines of the Bible. While this class whom they daily saw, 
and by whose labors they were furnished with the comforts 
and luxuries of life, were so little cared and provided for in 
this line, they had great sympathy for those whom they had 
never seen. While it was a popular and honorable thing to 
be on the list of liberal donors for charitable and benevolent 
purposes, how much was done to be seen of men, and for 
the honor that cometh from man, is only known by Him 
who knows the secrets of all hearts. 

But rich and poor, bond and free, were all called upon to 
do something in the cause. When the poor contributed it 
was generally more in proportion to their means than that 
by the rich, who, of their abundance contributed much. 

Some of those who so zealously solicited contributions, 
were arrayed in costly and high style, and could afi'ord to 
send their children to high school, and had themselves been 
enabled by the contributions of the people, to own land and 
farms and servants; while numbers of the donors were very 
hard run to get a very limited education, and poorly fur- 
nished homes for their families. Yet those who were so 
zealously aifected for the poor, benighted heathen abroad. 



22 

and benevolent institutions and missions at home, or per- 
haps for having the honor of raising the largest contribu- 
tions, in their call, could ask for the poor man's mite, raised 
by the sale of nuts collected from the forest, and the earn- 
ings of the slave that he had procured by his labors on hol- 
idays, and at night, after his day's work for his master was 
done. The poor widow's two mites were often referred to 
on these occasions, and anecdotes of highly favorable and 
unexpected and unthought of occurrences taking place with 
persons, after making liberal contributions : such as unex- 
pected legacy, return of stock given up for lost, lost articles 
of value being found, &c. 

While some were actuated by impure motives, and resor- 
ted to unworthy measures to acquire means for good purpo- 
ses, and those were sometimes put to a bad use; all of 
which gave occasion to the adversaries to spead reproachful- 
ly, and furnished an excuse to many for withholding their 
aid. 

At the same time, there was a class of professed chris- 
tians who openly and publicly opposed all missionory, bible 
and tract societies, and Sabbath school operations, and all 
societies for aiding in benevolent enterprises, and denounced 
them as anti-scriptural, and represented them as being the 
beast or the image of the beast, that had seven heads and 
ten horns ; and represented those engaged in those societies 
as trying to take God's work out of his hands, which he 
would accomplish in his own good time and way, without 
their instrumentalities ; who were like Uzzah when he put 
forth his unhallowed hand to stay the ark of the Lord. All 
were often denounced from the pulpit; and also literary 
qualifications for the ministry. And many were employed 
as teachers who could not speak their own mother tongue 
with any tolerable degree of propriety ; and, although they 
professed to be chosen, called and inspired to preach and to 
teach the people and expound the scriptures, could not tell 
the difference between the present and past tense of the verb 
read ; but could gesticulate as though they would throw 
their limbsfrom their bodies, rant, vociferate and bawl as if 
they would tear their lungs out ; and pour forth a tide of in- 
coherent, imperfectly articulated language, and many un- 
meaning words, such as could be found in none of the dic- 
tionaries or standard works in the language of any civilized 
nation under heaven. 



23 

Some delivered their discourses with a vibrating tone or 
song J others ended their sentences with an insignificant oh, 
or thrust it in elsewhere to keep up the sound of their 
whistle, till they had let off their steam and exhausted their 
physical strength. And oh, they were so feeling and zeal- 
ous they were highly esteemed as good, great and powerful 
men by the ignorant and uncultivated, with whom a great 
noise would pass for logic and gospel; presumption for faith, 
and a great gust or flow of animal passion for renewing or 
sanctifying grace. And though these teachers had never 
read one-fourth part of the Bible regularly through in their 
lives, nor perhaps one chapter correctly in the New Testa- 
ment, yet their vulgar speeches and rude criticisms, pro- 
ceeding from a poorly educated brain, and an undisciplined 
and unbridled tongue, against refinement, science, the scien- 
tific and scientific statements, were heard and received as 
with open mouth, and eyes widely staring, with wonder and 
astonishment at, and admiration of their profound reason- 
ing from their amazing depths and hights and inexhaustible 
treasures of knowledge and divinely inspired skill, in bring- 
ing to light the deep and hidden mysteries of Grod, not gen- 
erally made known to others as to themselves ; and though 
they knew little of what is in the Bible and of Bible histo- 
ry, and of ancient histories, and, consequently, of the true 
meaning of much of the New Testament, yet many preferred 
and depended upon these as teachers and guides, instead of 
those who like Timothy of old, had known the scriptures 
from a child, and had studied and practiced them from their 
youth up, and were well acquainted with the Old and New 
Testament scriptures, and the history of the times, and the 
people that lived, and the language spoken by them during 
those ages in which the scriptures were written, and the 
customs and practices that obtained and prevailed, which 
were the foundation of many of the metaphors, parables and 
comparisons of the scriptui'e, by which many of their im- 
portant doctrines are illustrated. "If the blind lead the 
blind, shall they not both fall into the ditch ?" 

Whil§ this state of things prevailed in the rough back- 
ground of the country, where was often intermixed a sprin- 
kle of the precious of the earth, clothed in native simplici- 
ty of style, with the charms of honest, unaffected sweetness 
of disposition, kindness and gentleness of manner, ornamen- 
ted with true christian charity — all traceable to the right 



24 

use of the old family Bible — free from a burden of useless 
compliments and vain show of fashionable politeness and 
hollow hearted outward display of friendship and good will, 
among the wealthy and more highly cultivated, where 
science, fashion, fancy and extravagance prevailed, the root 
of all evil was to too great an extent the presiding divinity, 
in both church and state. Fashion and display were the or- 
der of the day, and authorities to high to be called in ques- 
tion or spoke against, without incurring the displeasure of 
their devotees, in whose estimation a person diminished in 
proportion to his similarity to the poor wise man, who, for 
the sake of others, submitted to be more uncomfortably cir- 
cumstanced in some respects, than the foxes and fowls. 

Many of their ministers set an example of indulgence in 
the lust of the flesh and the eye and the pride of life, but 
appeared to forget the apostle's plan of preaching : " We 
preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and our- 
selves your servants, for Christ's sake.'^ And "not in the 
excellency of speech which man's wisdom deviseth." 

Some of them delivered their discourses in a style that 
quite transcended the comprehenison of a majority of their 
hearers, and so decorated and varnished their discourses 
with rhetorical figures, flowery flights of oratory, that they 
appeared to lose sight of everything but to make a display 
of themselves; as if their object was to obtain for them- 
selves the honor conferred upon Herod, when he made his 
oration to the Jews. 

In their display of superior and towering intellect, and 
vast scientific attainments in the philosophical and astronom- 
ical researches, they could' dive down to the unseen regions 
and focal center of earth's circumferal attraction, and, by 
power of steam plow fearlessly through the mighty ocean's 
thundering roar of mountain and wave, ride the submarine 
telegraph, with electric speed, to the trans- Atlantic shore, to 
courts, councils and palaces of kings and emperors, and in a 
vast and towering flight through illimitable space, in admi- 
ration of countless systems of worlds that harmoniously 
play around the central and topless throne of the, eternal 
Grod, and range through these scenes sublime, but appear to 
forget and lose sight of the meek and lowly spirit, the hum- 
ble and condescending example set before the children of 
men by the great and glorious Maker and Preserver of all, 
when he came to fulfill his saving mission upon earth; 



25 

where he was first found by those who sought not among 
the rich and scientific at a public inn, or palace of a king, ar- 
rayed in princely apparel, but in a manger in a stall, and 
wrapped in swaddling clothes. Oh, what contempt of the 
honors of wealth, giory and display of the pride of life, 
among sinful, infatuated, dying worms of the dust ! 

While many greatly admired those great men and their 
flowing displays, of which they comprehended little, those 
who, as Peter directs, were, as new born babes, desiring the 
sincere milk of the word, that they might grow thereby, 
went away hungry and disappointed, as from a thistle or 
thorn bush, without being nourished and strengthened by 
refreshing clusters from a fruitful branch of the true -vine. 

While such teachers could be heard patiently through a 
long discourse, by a large crowd of admiring hearers, the 
man who confined himself to the plain and simple truths of 
the gospel, and heart searching and soul trying doctrines of 
the word of God, which is the sword of the spirit, had few 
to hear him and still fewer to admire his performance ; while 
many complained of the length of his sermons and their 
lack of interesting matter ; and to listen to two on one Sab- 
bath day was intolerable ; that many could exclaim from the 
bottom of their hearts, "What a weariness is it,'^ while there 
were comparatively few who had a hearty relish for this 
kind of preaching and manner of spending the Sabbath, and 
gave evidence of the same by their faithful and regular at- 
tendance upon it, there were multitudes who could be highly 
entertained and deeply interested during the whole day with 
worldly conversation about their political fancies and parties 
and pecuniary prospects, while Grod, judgment and eternity 
appeared to be not in all their thoughts, but were unwel- 
come intruders upon those choice seasons of interesting con- 
versation on interesting subjects, seemingly of far more im- 
portance to them. 

While churches in some places were falling to ruins, and 
places of religious worship were neglected and forsaken, and 
appointments for religious duties forgotten, appointments for 
political harangues and public dinners and shows were reco- 
lected and attended by vast multitudes ; so that it might be 
said, "there was no end to their horses and chariots," and 
one short day would not afi'ord them time enough to get 
through with their interesting business and enjoyments, and 
—3 



26 

witli suitable alterations, the sublime language of the chris- 
tian poet could be heartily adopted by a great many : 

My -willing heart would gladly stay 

At such a jolly place as this, 
Amuse and sport itself away. 

In endless scenes of carnal bliss 
Away from rigid Bible schools, 

And all the long faced preacher's tales, 
Where the epicurian rules. 

With all the free born race prevails. 

Up to this joyful, happy feast. 

We precious gifts have freely sent, 
For here the prophet and the priest, 

Us with their words cannot torment. 
In obscure silence let them weep ; 

Reproofs from them we will not bear, 
For since the fathers fell asleep. 

All things remain just as they were. 

Away with all their silly hum, 

As if the Lord was near at last, 
And shortly he to earth would come — 

The time is now already past. 
Let all their tales be now forgot. 

So shall sweet joy and mirth begin, 
And let their names and memory rot, 

And be as though they had not been. 

Now let us laugh and joyful be, 
For sure we have a jubilee. 
Sure, such a treat we could not miss, 
For this to us is solid bliss. 

At this good friend you need not fret. 
For if we can we don't regret. 
The rule with you should always be, 
Your course pursue and so will we. 

The choice we make, if ill or well, 
That place we'll take, heaven or hell ; 
Nor ever dread time passing by. 
But eat and drink, for soon we die. 

As time passed away great changes were made, both in 
the face of the country and in the disposition and manners 
of the people, during a period of time in which there was 
less wealth and fewer facilities for accumulating property, 
and more plainness of fashion and simplicity of manners 



27 

prevailed, and mucli more was produced by labor than there 
was much demand for in market, and there was little occa- 
sion for excitement or emulation upon the subject of wealth, 
generosity, harmony, friendship, peace and a good degree of 
temporal policy generally prevailed. The poor and unfor- 
tunate were sympathised with, and cared for, and the pleas- 
ant state of society might well be compared to a flourishing 
bed of full grown touch-me-nots, which ornament the scene- 
ry and delight the senses with their beauties and rich per- 
fume. But as facilities for wealth increased, and everything 
that could be made could be turned into money, avarice, 
covetousness, ambition, vanity, haughtiness, selfishness, em- 
ulation, jealousy, strife and division increased in church and 
state. Neighborhoods and families, government and order, 
in all their relations and departments in life, were crippled 
and deranged, and all classes, from the child to persons of 
mature years, were so inflated with pride and vain notions 
of themselves, and jealousy for their rights to unrestrained 
liberty and high honor and reputation, that they were crea- 
tures of such magnitude in their own estimation, that it was 
difficult for me to move about them, without, in their esti- 
mation, coming in hostile contact with them, and seriously 
conflicting with that of which they were so tenacious. A 
state of society which, instead of the beauty and fragrance 
of plants, decorated with fresh flowers, is better represented 
by the old stalk almost stripped of leaves and flowers, but 
furnished with homely brown pods, (guarded with stiff" bris- 
tles,) dry and ready to burst at the slightest touch on any 
part, while inside out throw its seeds in every direction, so 
that nothing is likely to escape a hit, and when one of those 
pods is touched, in a moment they all feel it, and with a 
bounce are whirling and curling inside out, and hurling 
their contents as with malicious fury and confusion in every 
direction, so that nothing can escape a hit, and all eyes had 
better be shut. 

Thus people were prepared for acting toward each other, 
and imaginary and unintended errors in conduct towards a 
person must be honorably redressed, explained and atoned 
for, and the unruly member was let loose. 

A spark now kindle with a breath, 
Hurled brands of fire, shafts and death, 
While others acting out the same, 
Had nature all wrapped in a flame. 



28 

And so of chance or desire, 
All nature's course was on fire, 
More sad and awful still to tell, 
The source from which it came is hell. 

Most horrid passions of the soul, 
All harbored in the human breast. 

As ocean's angry billows roll. 

When tempest tossed they cannot rest, 

They foam in wild and raging shoals; 

Once all was calm and quite inert, 
Now upward from beneath it rolls, 

In columns foul of mire and dirt. 

Evil speaking, backbiting and evil surmising, defaming 
and villifying, were resorted to as means of self defense and 
promotion and exaltation, in the honor that cometh from 
man, while that wisdom which is from above, was turned 
out of doors, with its pleasant fruits and lovely companions; 
that which is earthly sensual and develish, and entered with 
its imps and inmates, where was envying and strife, confu- 
sion, and every evil work. The vile practice villainy; the 
base contemned the honorable, and the child and the youth 
behaved himself proudly against the aged. 

How different this from the Bible rule : " Thou shalt rise 
up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old 
man, and fear they Grod,'' Lev. XIX, 32. With this the 
practice and example of Elihu of old well agreed, Job 
XXXII, 6, 7, who said, " I am young, and ye are very old, 
wherefore I was afraid and durst not show my opinion ; I 
said days should speak, and a multitude of years should 
teach wisdom.^' But in those latter days of improvement, 
the aged often had to wait for the young first to give their 
opinion, and display their superior knowledge and marvelous 
precocity, then the old might, with caution, modestly ven- 
ture a supposition, in their vulgar way, in the presence of 
refined, scientific young Americans. And sometimes when 
the venerable preceptor attempted to maintain primitive or- 
der — 

By his old fogy means and rules, 
Now obsolete in homes and schools. 
He learned from Bible mouth sublime, 
And youth held dagger's polished tongue. 
That he was quite behind the time, 
Among those brave and rising young. 



29 

A state of things now existed much like that described 
and lamented over by Isaiah, III, 12, "As for my people, 
children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. 

my people, they that lead thee cause thee to err and de- 
stroy the way of thy paths." The principle was encouraged 
and cherished to render evil for evil, and to bear injury, re- 
proach or insult from no man, but to resent and revenge it. 
This was brave, manly and noble ; but when reviled or un- 
kindly treated, to pass it by without reviling again, resent- 
ing or raising a storm about it, was too ignoble, mean spiri- 
ted and effeminate. 

Parents who had the best interest of their offspring at 
heart, and felt deeply concerned for their future welfare, and 
were more anxious to promote their spiritual and eternal in- 
terests than to secure for them an honorable station in the 
world, or a popular position in fashionable society, found it 
almost impossible to stem the tide of surrounding influence, 
and train them up according to Bible precept, so as to secure 
that good part, in comparison with which all earthly good 
dwindles into insignificance and is lost sight of, as a taper 
blown out in midnight darkness. But, alas ! how few fami- 
lies were to be found in these perilous times, where the pa- 
rents were heartily united in their plans and efforts for the 
defense of the truth, with an eye single to the glory of Grod, 
practicing according to his word, with their faces Zionward 
and their backs upon the world, with the resolution of 
Joshua of old : " Let others do as they may, as for me and 
my house, we will serve the Lord." How few had faith and 
moral courage enough thus to go forward, confiding in the 
power and faithfulness of Grod to accomplish his work and 
fulfill his promises of good by the means of his own ap- 
pointment, without the fashionable policy of this enlight- 
ened age of serving both Grod and mammon and of trans- 
gressing the laws of Grod that they may conform to the fiish- 
ions and customs of the world, that they may thereby in- 
crease their popularity and ability for effecting good among 
the people. " Them that honor me I will honor, and they 
that despise me shall be lightly esteemed, saith the Lord." 

1 Sam. II, 30. 

Though Christ has said, "If any man love me he will 
keep my words ; and ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever 
I command you. If any man love wife or children more 
than me he is not with me." Yet how few among those 



30 

who professed to be tlie friends of Grod, but wlio like Eli of 
old, despised or set so ligbtly by the commandments of God 
that they honored the desires and lusts of themselves and of 
their children by complying with their requisitions in pre- 
ference to those of God ; and would encourage and gratify a 
child or a companion in that which they knew to be contrary 
to and forbidden by the law of God. 

When parents differed in their notion of religion and gov- 
ernment, the ones whose system was most in accordance 
with the flesh, the world and the devil, had greatly the ad- 
vantage in influence, as it corresponded and co-operated with 
human depravity, and was therefore a most dangerous ene- 
my to the spirit and interests of the rising generation. 

This state of things might well be compared to a person 
rowing his way against wind and tide with a companion on 
board unfriendly to his progress, who though much his in- 
ferior in strength, yet can easily by an occasional opposing 
stroke, prevent his progress, turn him aside or thrust him 
backward so as to defeat his purpose. 

Such was the unhappy lot of many who were unequally 
yoked in the marriage relation with unbelievers or non-pro- 
fessors, and consequently spent their best days and energies 
in toil and anxious care raising children, many of whom, as 
St. Peter says, were as naturul brute beasts, made to be ta- 
ken and destroyed, who should utterly perish in their own 
corruption. Upon whom the sayings of the Lord by the 
mouth of his prophets, is as fully accomplished as they were 
upon the Jews of old : " Because you have forgotten me, I 
also will forget your children.^^ 

Although the state of Zion was such that one, when 
looking at the dark side of the case, might be led to feel 
someteing like the prophet did when, in reply to the ques- 
tion, " What doest thou here ? and he said : Israel have 
forsaken thy covenant and thrown down thine altars, slain 
thy prophets, &c., but as there was then seven thousand in 
Israel whe had not bowed their knees to nor kissed Baal, so 
perhaps there were that many who were exceptions to the 
general state of things in those latter days, for there were 
still a few faithful ministers, who, Elijah like, were bold de- 
fenders of the truth, who stood up for the old paths and 
faithfully instructed the people, and solemnly warning, re- 
proving, rebuking, admonishing, and entreating them with 
long suffering patience, telling them of the lowering clouds 
*— 3 



31 

of wrath that were gathering and thicking over their heads, 
soon to break forth in bolts and storms of judgment and de- 
struction upon a guilty, God-forgetting, Sabbath-profaning, 
covenant-breaking, gospel-slighting, Christ-rejecting, Heav- 
en-daring, Grod-provoking, Hell-deserving people, who, 
knowing the judgments of God against those who do such 
things, not only do the same, but have pleasure in those 
who do them. The watchmen saw the sword coming and 
gave the alarm, but they took no warnings, but many made 
light of it and went their own way ; and those preachers 
seemed to them as Lot did to his doomed sons-in-law : as 
one that mocked, and they were fast preparing for that to 
be true concerning them that was said of the Jews at the 
time of their subjugation by the Chaldeans and captivity to 
Babylon, II Chr., XXXVI, 16. But they mocked the 
messengers of God, despised his word and misused his 
prophets, till the wrath of God rose against his people till 
there was no remedy. 

It was too true with regard to a majority, that they 
would not receive instruction, that they hated reproof, and 
though often reproved were obstinately determined on their 
own chosen way. Their true character and the consequence 
of which is clearly set forth in the scriptures : He that re- 
fuseth instruction despiseth his own own soul. He that ha- 
teth reproof is brutish. He that being often reproved har- 
deneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that with- 
out remedy. All they that hate me love death. When all 
the workers of iniquity flourish, it is that they shall be de- 
stroyed forevor. 

These things clearly showed to those whose eyes were 
open, what was stored in reserve for the future, and they 
felt the force and applicability of the prophet's words : "Be 
ye not as your fathers to whom the former prophets cried, 
saying, thus saith the Lord of hosts : turn ye now from 
your evil ways and from your evil doings. But they did not 
hearken unto me, saith the Lord. Your fathers, where are 
they ? and the prophets, do they live forever ? But my 
words and my statutes which I commanded my servants the 
prophets, did they not take hold on your fathers ? 

The fountains of society were corrupted, and the founda- 
tions of family, civil and religious government and order 
were out of place. Opposite extremes were resorted to in 
their policy for training and governing the young, perhaps 



32 

equally pernicious to happiness and good order in society. 
According to one plan all was to be effected by kindness, 
flattery, persuasion, indulging, hiring and perhaps threaten- 
ing or promising what was seldom executed or. fulfilled. 
Some thought that using the rod was useless and injurious; 
that it was unnatural, unfeeling and cruel in parents, and 
only calculated to produce hatred, disrespect and unkind 
feelings in children toward parents, and that it was a kind 
of government only suited to a barbarous, uncivilized people, 
slaves and brute beasts, but entirely unworthy of this high- 
ly refined age of superior light and improvement, and of the 
highest grade and most noble of the human race, destined 
soon to give law and order to all nations, break every op- 
pressive yoke of tyranny and despotism, undo all the heavy 
burdens and let all the oppressed go free, proclaiming a ju- 
bilee of liberty and freedom to all the inhabitants of the 
earth, which will be glad tidings of great joy to all people 
but the Neros. 

A great portion of those trained according to this plan 
were in the habit of setting lightly by the authority, wishes 
and rules of their parents, only so far as they corresponded 
with their own inclinations. And generally going unpun- 
ished for their disobedience, and without threats being exe- 
cuted upon them, the disposition to disregard law, and evade 
and escape from justice, was fostered in them from infancy, 
and having practiced successfully in family and civil govern- 
ment, they were encouraged to think that God also was such 
an one as themselves, and that they would have their own 
way, and, finally, in some way, would escape his justice; and 
hence were disposed neither to fear God nor regard man. 
Children growing up under the habit of being indulged and 
waited on a great deal, often carry the effects of it with 
them through the whole course of their business in the 
world, and down to the latest period of life. When they go 
to school, the teacher must do almost everything for them, 
and, in religion, the preacher and the church must do all ; 
and in all cases, they must do as they please. 

Another class seeing the error and evil of a child being 
left to itself, and that it is a scripture truth, that it brings its 
mother to shame, and also that the Bible directs us to use 
the rod, and promises a blessing upon its use, they attempt 
to keep everything in its place by brute force and by tyran- 
nical coercion, without the persuasive influence of reason 



33 

and kindness, and all is crushed into order and formal sub- 
mission, alike to the dictates of passion and of lawful au- 
thority, without manifesting any regard to the pleasure of 
the subject. This is indeed calculated to produce opposi- 
tion, and rebellion and prejudice against all strict laws, hu- 
man or divine, as being arbitrary and unkind ; and hence a 
strong disposition arises to throw off the yoke and disregard 
them whenever they think they can. 

The safest and best plan for training the rising genera- 
tion, to secure their happiness and welfare, and the way 
aimed at by a few lies between these extremes, and is that 
which has been prescribed by Him who has given to us our 
existence with all our capacities, and fully comprehends the 
whole of our complicated and mysterious nature, and all the 
sources and springs of thought and action, and know exactly 
what is best suited to the case, and has given us the rules 
that have been dictated by infinite knowledge, wisdom, skill 
and goodness, and far transcends anything that human skill 
can devise, Grod has given us the laws and counsels of his 
word, which he has required us to lay up in our hearts and 
to practice them in our lives, and dilligently teach the love 
and practice of them to our children, and talk of them when 
we sit in the house, when we walk by the way, when we lie 
down and when we rise up, &c. Not that we should be thus 
continually employed in word, but enough to have them 
thoroughly fixed in the mind of the young, and we should 
so order our conduct and the disposition of our hearts, that 
by the temper and spirit of our minds and uniform course 
in life, we may manifest and act out what the law enjoins, 
and thus teach it at all times and under all circumstances, 
not only by word but by actions which speak louder than 
words. 

As the All-wise Creator, who perfectly understands our 
nature, well knew that these in themselves would be insuffi- 
cient to secure the proper training of children and the best 
intere.^ts of man, he has plainly taught us this ; and also 
the proper means to be used, and what will be the result, 
and also some of the consequences of their neglect, that 
none are by nature disposed to do good. " We all go as- 
tray from the womb. Foolishness is bound up in the heart 
of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it from him." 
Prov. XXII, 15, XXIX, 16. The rod and reproof give 
wisdom ; but a child left to himself bringeth its mother to 



34 

shame, 17. Correct tty son and he shall give thee rest; 
yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul, XIX, 19. Chasten 
thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for 
his crying, (to his destruction or cause him to die,) XXIII, 
12, 14. Withhold not correction from the child, for if thou 
beatest him with the rod he shall not die. Thou shalt beat 
him with the rod and shalt deliver his soul from hell, XIII. 
He that spareth the rod hateth his son, but he that loveth 
him chasteneth him betimes. Train up a child in the way 
he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. 
The lip of truth shall be established forever but a lying 
tongue is but for a moment." 

Doubtless it was to this old and divinely inspired rule of 
instruction and government, and the necessity of its being 
carried out under any dispensation, the apostle had reference 
when he enjoined it upon parents to train up their children 
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And again, 
not to provoke them to wrath, (as I understand, by harsh, 
tyrannical, or unreasonable treatment,) lest they become 
discouraged. He also plainly infers, Heb. XII, 6, 11, that 
it was fully understood that children who had lawful pa- 
rents and were properly cared for were trained by this rule, 
and if they were not, were neglected and treated as bas- 
tards. If this old rule was generally attended to, how 
changed would be the condition of the world. 

If parents, with an eye to the high responsibility of their 
station, the glory of G^od, and the good of his creatures, 
holding the reigns of government with a steady hand, pro- 
ceeding with unshaken firmness and decision, acting from 
principle, with the best interests of their children at heart, 
and would go forward in the discharge of their duty, firm to 
this purpose, immovable by wrath, sympathy or affection, 
first learning to be governed and to govern themselves, and 
then would teach those divine precepts to their children, by 
which under God they are bound to govern themselves and 
their children, so long as they are under their care and legal 
control and representation, and would faithfully explain to 
them the wisdom, goodness and necessity of those precepts 
which they are bound to obey themselves, and cannot and 
dare not disobey them, nor suffer their children to do so 
with offending Cod and exposing both to his righteous dis- 
pleasure, and thus teach them, and that it is their duty and 
interest to obey and please so great and good a being as he 



35 

is, and that if they will not they must be punished. Wheu 
parents thus faithfully instruct their children in their duty 
to God, parents and others, with the happy effects of obedi- 
ence set forth on one hand, and the miserable consequences 
of disobedience on the other; if, then, a child proves way- 
ward and disobedient, they, firm to their post and faithful 
to their trust, let it know that there is no escape from pun- 
ishment, but transgression and disobedience must have their 
recompense, and when they inflict punishment let the child 
see that it is intended for its good, and to do their own duty, 
and not because it is any satisfaction to them, and that they 
are grieved and distressed at its wickedness, and that it is 
painful to them to have to punish their child, so much so 
they would gladly receive it themselves, if it would have 
the necessary effect on the child, (which certainly is true, at 
least with all christian parents who have tender feeling for 
their children.) 

Blind, perverted human nature, with all its stubbornness, 
can hardly withstand such persuasive arguments. Parents 
who thus proceed in the exercise of government, humbly 
trusting to Grod to bless the means of his own appointment 
and make them effectual in accomplishing the desired object 
is not likely to be disappointed. Many who have thus gone 
forth with bleeding hearts, weeping and bearing precious 
seeds, have doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing their 
sheaves with them, of a glorious harvest of the peaceable 
fruits of obedience unto life, temporal and spiritual. 

Would parents thus perform their duties they would 
greatly add to, and promote the interest and happiness of 
thempelves and their children, their neighborhood, the 
church, nation and the world of mankind, "God's would be 
the glory, man's the boundless bliss.'' 

Perhaps it is proper and necessary here to notice some of 
the organizations of men that considerably affected the con- 
dition of the church. And here I take the position that 
God, who is possessed of all possible perfections, both natu- 
ral and moral, to an indefinite degree, has given us in his 
word a perfect system of religion and morality, and a better 
system of civil and religious government, and better calcu- 
lated to secure good order, peace, happiness and prosperity 
in the human family, than anything that they can devise 
apart from it. The great object of law and government is 
to prevent evil, redress and punish wrong, promote, defend, 



36 

and reward the good. Therefore that which is most efficient 
in the accomplishment of this end is the wisest and best sys- 
tem. Now who that has any experience in human nature 
does not know that if the Bible rules of teaching and gov- 
erning were carried out, and the penalty or violated laws 
was inflicted to the letter, whether unto death, or to an eye 
for an eye, &c. The number of deaths from murder, and 
the execution of criminals, and the damages and suffering 
from violence, and the punishment inflicted upon transgres- 
sors would be ten times less than it is, and the state of 
things would be ten times better than what now is. If that 
system had been properly attended to we would have had 
none of the trouble of the war with which we are now bur- 
dened and destroyed; as a matter of course, all the calam- 
ity, carnage and blood, distress of body and of mind, loss of 
life and property, is traceable to the violation and neglect of 
those rules, and those who have acted and thought so are 
chargeable with it all. 

We are prone to two great evils : first to forsake the rules 
God has given us, and then presumptuously attempt to de- 
vise something of our own, superior to these, and better cal- 
culated to promote our interests ; hence the isms and 
schisms, associations and organizations for which there is 
neither precept nor precedent in the scriptures. 

We have had different organizations of this kind, each 
with a mouth speaking great things for its self, and promis- 
ing to do great things for the people. Most of them have 
had good enough connected with them to give them the ap- 
pearance of an angel of light, at least in the eyes of many, 
such as free masons, odd fellows, sons of temperance and 
good templars ; all of which hold forth some object, lawful 
and good in itself, as that which is to be effected by them, 
and better than could be effected without them. God has 
not in his word, so far as I know, ever authorized or said 
anything good, but always evil of such orders or organiza- 
tions as these, whose terms of membership and the signs by 
which they are known to themselves, is a secret known only 
to themselves ; and their meetings are required to be held, 
and their business transacted with and among themselves, to 
the exclusion of all others ; an organization and practice 
never justifiable where the right and privilege of performing 
every duty to God and man is enjoyed, and only where these 
are interfered with by the laws and authorities that exist. 



37 

What is light ? That by which knowledge is gained 
through the organ of sight; and, figuratively, all correct 
knowledge of things is called light ; darkness is its absence, 
in a natural sense ; and so, in a moral sense, that which con- 
ceals or prevents knowledge is called darkness. 

Again, what is meant by the unfruitful works of dark- 
ness, and the things done in secret, of which it is a shame to 
speak, but the doings of organizations of such a kind? Yet 
we find societies in these last days formed after the pattern 
and example, to some extent, of these ancient mysteries of 
iniquity, who make tall pretensions to being the authors of 
a vast amount of moral, civil and religious improvement ; 
and they had become so popular in the south, that most of 
the leading men, both in church and State, belonged to 
them. Even the preachers, of most religious denomina- 
tions belonged to them, and it was thought by many to be 
necessary to enable a man to have influence, and it was ar- 
gued, that if there was any harm in them, so many good 
people would not stay in them. 

But if that position were necessarily true, the same ar- 
gument would prove many other anti-scriptural practices to 
be harmless : such as the fashions and vanities of the world, 
the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life. Covetousness, 
unfair dealings, oppression, breaking the marriage relation 
without the consent of the parties, and preventing the ful- 
filling of the marriage contract, preparing the way for and 
encouraging unlawful conduct, persons rejecting the proper 
training of those committed to their charge ; and, in short, 
anything and everything that can be practised among men, 
so as to make it fashionable and popular, and, on that ac- 
count, highly esteemed among men, though abominable in 
the sight of Grod, 

Claims were made by professed ministers of the Grospel, 
and belonging to some of those orders, especially the sons 
of temperence; that the sons of temperance were doing 
more for the good of the world than the church was. Some 
went so far as to asser6 that they were doing, and had done 
more good than all the churches and preachers had done. 
It was generally admitted that if the church had done its 
duty there would have been no use of such societies; but 
inasmuch as the church had been so corrupt, and had depar- 
ted so far from the performance of her duty, such organiza- 
tions had become necessary, which, by the by, was an ac- 
—4 



38 

knowledgement of the truth of our position : that the sys- 
tem 01 Divine appointment is sufficient to meet the necessi- 
ties of the human family, if attended to according to divine 
appointment ; therefore, the failure is chargeable to men 
and not to the system ; and, of course, when people become 
corrupt, and subject themselves to calamity and evil, by de- 
parting from those divinely appointed rules, or by corrupt- 
ing and incorporating human invention and traditions with 
them, the wisest and best course to pursue is to bring the 
people back to the good old way, to trust to Grod and his 
own authorized and instituted means. He that does so shall 
be called a restorer of paths to walk in ; but they that 
trust to the devices of their own hearts and the inventions 
of men, and turn the attention of men to these things, and 
encourage them to trust to them, instead of that ordained 
of God, are such as the prophet describes when he says : 
" They that lead them cause them to err and destroy the 
way of thy paths/' "He that trusteth to his own heart is 
afoor' Prov. Deut. XXVII, 18, "Cursed be he that ma- 
keth the blind to wander out of the way. Cursed be the 
man that trusteth to man and maketh flesh his arm, whose 
heart departeth from the living God.'' Presumptuous are 
they, proud blasphemers against God. The more a thing 
that is useless can be made to resemble that which is useful 
and valuable, the more likely are people to be imposed upon 
by such counterfeits, and to be subjected to all the evils to 
which they are thereby made liable. 

A vast amount of time, labor and money has been used 
to keep up and furnish these organizations ; and though I 
admit that, as Tertullus said to Felix, very worthy deeds in 
themselves have been done by their providence, yet, I doubt 
not, they have got more credit for them, from themselves 
and the world than is their just due, or than they will ever 
get from the Judge of all the earth, who may say of them as 
he did of some of old, who sought the admiration and hon- 
or that comes from men, more than the approbation of God : 
" Verily, they have their reward." Had they devoted as 
much time, money and labor to religious and benevolent 
purposes, in strict accordance with divinely instituted rules, 
the good resulting therefrom would have been as much great- 
er as divine wisdom exceeds human skill. 

So far as I know, it is a rule generally with these organi- 
zations, which are denominated secret, because the signifi- 



39 

cation of their signs and the transactions of their business 
are concealed from other people, that they are bound to be- 
friend their own fraternity, in preference to and beyond 
what they are required to do to any others. This feature, 
in some orders, has been held forth as an inducement to 
others to unite with their order. "If ye love them that love 
you, and do good to them that do good to you, and give to 
them from whom ye expect as much again, what thank have 
ye ? Do good to all men, especially to those who are of the 
household of faith," is the apostolic rule. But if they have 
a^member who makes no pretensions to piety, and his life 
plainly shows that he has no right to such pretense, yet 
they are bound to protect and defend him in preference to 
the most devoted saint or christian upon earth who does not 
belong to their order. 

Again, the theory has been handed out that they were 
doing much in preventing political discord and division ; 
that they were the cement of the nation, the adhesive plas- 
ter of the Union, and were chiefly to be depended upon for 
its preservation. Had they lived under such an adminis- 
tration as that of Nebuchadnezzer, long before this they 
would have been promoted to Haman's hights, thence to 
survey the happy fruits of their salutary institutions, in the 
enviable scenes of our divided country. Where is their 
boasting, then, when the whole nation is involved in the 
horrors of a desolating war, introduced by thousands of 
traitors in our midst ? while we have reason to believe a 
large majority belong to some organization for concocting 
schemes and devices in secret. 

The very existence of such an organization is a reproach 
and slander upon any just, good and equitable government, 
for it is equivalent to the declaration that the government 
where they exist, does not allow to, or protect its subjects in 
the possession of the free use and enjoyment of what God 
has given them a right to, which is all that any one is justi- 
fiable in desiring, claiming or asking for himself or any one 
else. So, then, the existence of, or desire for such institu- 
tions, shows that those who do such things think the gov- 
ernment under which they live does not guarantee to them 
the free enjoyment of their divinely authorized rights, or 
they are possessed of a disposition to obtain for themselves 
what they have no right to, and, of course, at the expense 
of right and justice. 



40 

I honestly believe it to be very impolitic in any govern- 
ment to permit any organization, civil or religious, to exist 
witbin it, with the privilege of holding meetings for the 
transacting of business, which is a secret known only to 
themselves ; or, in other words,, any society or organization 
of a kind that secrecy is essential to its existence, perpetua- 
tion and prosperity. 

To make the. best of it we can, supposing all the societies we 
have named to be free from all unjust and impure designs, and 
therefore such institutions ought to be tolerated in the govern- 
ment, this policy is like that of a person who has certain do- 
mestic animals, which may go into his j&elds and stores 
without damaging his fruit and goods, and he therefore 
thinks he ought to, and does, leave a pass-way for them to 
go through at pleasure, without his knowledge, but in so do- 
ing, leaves those things exposed to the ravages of all other 
animals of equal and less size, whose disposition is to tear 
up and destroy his fruits and goods. Who that has any con- 
siderable knowledge of the state of things in our country at 
this time, but is aware that the privileges and practices of 
secret associations have had much to do in bringing it about? 
Yet they have caused excitement in their time, and promised 
great things to the people, engrossed the mind and choked 
out the word and rendered it unfruitful. 

The following were among the things that had their in- 
fluence upon the state of morality and religion : horse racing, 
circuses, exhibitions of men and beasts, feats of art, comic 
songs and clownish deeds, scenes of vanity and vice, with 
which the minds of many were corrupted. Great things 
were pretended to be accomplished by phrenological knowl- 
edge, mesmerism, and spirit-rapping, all of which had a 
fame for mystery, which held the public mind spell bound 
for a time, and diverted the mind from matters of more vital 
importance. 

At the same time, political party policy, prejudice, ambi- 
tious strife and jealousy, were on the march with increasing 
speed. But upon this subject I wish to be brief, as in these 
things I participated sparingly, and assumed the name of no 
political faction — more of my time was devoted to theologi- 
cal, than to political studies. I never made a political 
speech, nor subscribed for a political newspaper, (though of- 
ten furnished with more than I was willing to take time to 
read), nor ever left my home to listen to political speeches, 



41 

though often heard them when my business required my 
presence where they were delivered. 

The country was now divided into political sects, each of 
which had their newspaper organs, by which they proclaimed 
and trumpeted abroad their high and noble objects and the 
superior excellency of their own party leaders and party pol- 
icy, and claimed that the public interest was greatly depen- 
dant on them and their success, while they brought huge 
charges of dark deeds of dishonesty, unfair and false repre- 
sentations against their opponents, whom they represent as 
being destitute of veracity, and guilty of condescending to 
mean, low and groveling deeds, for the accomplishment of 
base and selfish ends, endeavoring to thrust others down, 
that they and their party might thereby rise at the unjust 
expense of good men's characters and interests, who were 
greatly superior to themselves. 

Each party made high claims to philanthropy and patri- 
otism, but made most hellish meals of good men's names. 
Loud and long were their discourses about the rights and 
liberties and interests of the common people, for the protec- 
tion of which they professed to feel great concern and much 
zeal. But it was a fact, too notorious not to be understood 
by the commonest mind with a little observatien and expe- 
rience, that this zeal for the rights and interests of the peo- 
ple in too many instances was like that manifested by Judas 
of old in behalf of the poor, which, indeed was not that he 
cared for the poor, but because he was- a thief and had the 
bag and what was put therein. So they wanted the fat offi- 
ces, and they would compass sea and land to accomplish their 
object; so that there was reason to believe that in those 
charges brought against each other, there was often more 
truth than fiction ; and it might almost be said in truth that 
the political press was a licensed organ of slander, infamy 
and reproach, often burdened and teeming with the pollu- 
ting and demoralizing fruit of human depravity. 

Such are the winds that often blow, 

And such the streams that onward glide, 
The woful state of nations show. 

While on the downward sweeping tide, 
Mid loud, and harsh, and jargon crash, 

And ever fulminating roar, 
And rubbish vile and worthless trash 

Obstructs from sight both sky and shore, 



42 

Polluted imps with brazen face, 

Strut forth in pride to make pretense 
Of right to fill each worthy place, 

Though void of grace and common sense. 
Deception, pride and self conceit, 

Presumption, vain and shallow show, 
Sits high at ease in honor's seat — 

Sense, truth and grace must stand below. 
And demons dark in robes of light. 

Around them shed a bright display, 
True saints of God shined out of sight, 

As tapers hid in light of day. 
The humble poor are out of sight, 

The meek and lowly just and true, 
The church's hope, the Lord's delight, 

The slighted, chastened, chosen few, 
Their humble homes a calm retreat, 

A place that suits my taste full well, 
"Where kindred spirits love to meet, 

With whom the Lord delights to dwell. 
Away from public strife and noise. 

Are scenes where thought delights to dwell. 
A pleasant wife and girls and boys, 

A father's heart with pleasure swell ; 
The young ones taught to fear the Lord, 

The hoary head to honor well; 
Instructed by the holy word, 

True wisdom's guide, the way from hell ; 
They learn to love and praise the Lord, 

Devote themselves to God in youth. 
And study well his sacred word, 

And walk in ways of peace and truth. 
To God they well may render praise. 

For that to which he makes them heirs ; 
On earth he gives them many days. 

Then God, and Christ, and all is theirs. 

How different this from the generality of those leaders and 
aspirants after worldly wealth and stations of power, honor 
and profit in a sinful nation, laden with iniquity, where they 
are contending and striving after the fading and transitory 
vanities of time — 

Which were as painted, airy bubbles 
That down Time's rapid current shined, 

And broke and left in endless troubles, 
The void, deluded, worldly mind. 



CHAPTER II. 

CONDITION OF THE SLAVES AND SLAVERY IN THE SOUTH. 

It is reasonable to suppose that one coming from a south- 
ern part of the Southern Confederacy, would be expected to 
give some particular statements with regard to the condition 
of the slaves of that country — their treatment, natural ca- 
pacity, &c., the views and feelings of the people generally 
with regard to the propriety and good policy of the institu- 
tion. 

The condition of the negro, like that of domestic beasts, 
differed very much according to the different kinds of own- 
ers; as almost all kinds of men owned them, they had vari- 
ous kinds of treatment, according to the dispositions of the 
owners, and that which was sanctioned by popular custom. 

Where the country was poor, and divided into small pos- 
sessions, the slaves not numerous and few owned by one per- 
son, as a general thing their condition was more comforta- 
ble; they enjoyed more liberties, and were more intelligent 
and happy. But, on the other hand, in proportion as a 
country was rich and its inhabitants wealthy, negroes nu- 
merous, and many were owned by one person, their condi- 
tion in every respect was generally worse. They were kept 
under closer restrictions, subject to heavier exactions, and 
the whites participated less in regular manual labor, less 
sympathy was shown the servant and less attachment to 
the master. There were some very humane, good hearted 
men, who regarded the temporal and spiritual interests of 
their servants, and tried to promote their comfort and wel- 
fare, both of soul and body, furnishing th( m with a compe- 
tency of food and clothing, and instructing them so far as 
the laws of the land would allow. And some were taught 
to read, though the law did not allow it. 

Some, perhaps, were treated in all respects as well as the 



44 

circumstances of such a relation would admit of; and 
doubtless many of this class of slaveholders were doing bet- 
ter than many who were not masters, only because they 
could not be such, and were condemning and finding fault 
with others for that of which they were innocent only be- 
cause they were not able to be guilty, though their deceitful 
hearts might not think so. 

Again, there were those who cared no more for the com- 
fort of their negroes than they did for their beasts, and 
showed less kindness and respect to them than they did to 
their favorite dogs. Many, by their mistreatment, had their 
capacity for usefulness much diminished; some were ren- 
dered useless, and some died of mistreatment; some while 
receiving punishment, and others of the effects afterward. 
A condition between the two extremes described, was the 
one occupied by the largest portion of the negroes in the 
south. When they were not overworked, and were fur- 
nished with plenty of food and clothing, though of a coarse 
kind and roughly prepared, they appeared to be the happi- 
est people in the country. There was a marked difference 
between their appearance, strength, and capacity for busi- 
ness, and that of those whose dry and faded looking skin, 
thin features, languid, downcast countenance, and sluggish 
appearance, plainly showed the lack of the property that 
supports animal nature, and imparts vitality and vigor to his 
movements. 

Of late years, numbers of them were furnished with good 
houses, much better than those of many of the poor white 
population ; but how they were furnished within, I cannot 
tell, for I have no recollection of being or seeing inside of 
one for the space of twenty years, so as to know what was 
there. When I was on the muster list, liable to serve in pa- 
role companies, whose business was to go round to the negro 
houses, within the bounds alotted to their inspection or vig- 
ilance operations, and see that the darkies were all in their 
proper places. But I must acknowledge that what I then 
saw made a deep, lasting and unfavorable impression upon 
my mind with regard to the institution of slavery ; and if 
what I then saw was anything like a good specimen of the 
condition of the negroes generally, in the slave states, theirs 
was a condition that no one who was not destitute of sympa- 
thy and compassion could survey without their feelings be- 
ing stirred within them, on account of that which none but 



45 

an infidel could contemplate without fearful forebodings of 
woful calamity awaiting the nation ; especially when they 
thought of the character of that God, from whose all-seeing 
eye no one of those things were concealed. 

The time has been when many of the slaves were taught 
to read, and some were well educated, and there were well 
educated, respectable and able ministers among them ; and 
also private members of society, who met and participated 
with the white brethren in conducting social worship. They 
often had meetings of their own; the services were conduc- 
ted by men of color, and the whites went to, or stayed away 
from them, as they chose. But such things of late years 
were of very rare occurence. Negroes were not allowed to 
assemble and conduct religious worship without white per- 
sons present. 

As to the general opinion of the people of all classes in 
regard to the propriety of the institution of slavery, until 
within a few years, with few exceptions, it was believed to 
be wrong and a great national sin, which would at some time^ 
if not done away, subject the nation to great calamities. 
Many there were who lamented the evil and dreaded the 
consequences; but inasmuch as it was fashionable, honorable 
and profitable, and one could not easily maintain their posi- 
tion in society without participating in it, they justified 
themselves from the consideration that they were not guilty 
of bringing them into bondage; and if they were here 
some would have them, and they might as well, perhaps bet- 
ter have them as some other who would not treat them as 
well. And so they persuaded themselves that, upon the 
whole, it was quite a clever, respectable and worthy deed. 

At times there was uneasiness in the minds of many with 
regard to the impropriety of holding them in bondage, and 
a dread of the consequences ; some liberated and sent them 
to Liberia ; others lived in continual dread of them. Yet, 
for a number of years, the disposition to liberate and colo- 
nize them appeared to be diminishing, and people appeared 
to be growing more determined upon the perpetuation and 
extension of slavery, fastening more strongly the fetters up- 
on the slave. Laws were enacted to prevent negroes from 
being taught to read and write ; and also to prevent any- 
thing from being said in public speeches, or by the press, 
against the institution ; but all were allowed to bring forth 
arguments, both in public and in private, in its favor and 



46 

defense. Books were written upon the subject, some 
professing to prove from scripture that slavery is a divine 
institution, and, of course, right. Some would prove it by 
phrenology, that the negro was capacitated only for a ser- 
vile position in society ; that they were incapable of scienti- 
fic attainments and of self government, &c. Some preten- 
ded to prove by anatomy that they were not the same grade, 
or species of being, as the white race. Some professed to 
prove from the scriptures that the African, or black race, 
were descended from Canaan, and were the subjects of the 
curse pronounced upon him by Noah, for the misconduct of 
Ham; others, that they were the descendants of Ham, and 
inherited their color and the degradation of their race from 
him ; that his name signified black or brown ; and his name 
and color were both given him because of his mistreatment 
of his father. 

Of course, the judgment in part preceded the crime. 
Some said they were not descended from Adam, although 
they acknowledged that they were a race of human beings. 
Others, again, represented them as being nothing more than 
brutes, having neither soul nor future existence. They were 
frequently spoken of, as being very little superior to a ba- 
boon, in point of intellect and intelligence, and, in a great 
measure, destitute of any quality that is lovely, noble and 
elevating in the human character. Everything mean, base 
and degrading, was compared to a negro. This was a com- 
mon mode of comparison. 

Although they were considered to be so polluted and de- 
graded as to be disgusting and repugnant to every feeling 
of refinement and decency, so as to be unworthy to be asso- 
ciated with white people ; yet there were those offering for 
the highest civil offices, and among what was called the high- 
er class, who could condescend to equal them.selves with 
those degraded creatures in secret, and that in unfaithful- 
ness to, and violation of the marriage contract. 

I have been told by persons from different southern 
states, who professed to have a good chance to know, that 
they believed there were very few men raised during the 
last thirty years, in the bounds of their knowledge, who were 
not guilty of this degrading kind of equalization ; and it is 
a well known fact that, about many of the popular towns, a 
great amount of the children of servants were of mixed 
complexion, and many of them as fair as most of the free; 



47 

and 6ome of them mucli whiter than many who owned 
slaves. 

Again, there were persons holding many slaves, who had 
a decent church for their blacks to assemble in, where they 
had them preached to, and the scriptures read and expoun- 
ded to them, and they catechised upon what was read to 
them. Some had the scriptures read to them so frequently, 
that they had a better knowledge of what was taught in 
them, than many white persons ; and some appeared to be 
much attached to, and have a great reverence for their own- 
ers, and acknowledged that they were well treated, and were 
thankful for their happy lot. 

But the reverse was true of others. While some allowed 
them to attend preaching on week days, the same as they 
did themselves, others did not encourage them even to go on 
Sabbath. Many who were members of churches, and in 
good standing, exacted all their ordinary labors from their 
negroes on fast days, which were common with some denom- 
inations. 

Many professed to give to their negroes the same diet they 
used themselves, though this, I think, was not often the 
case. I once had business at a house where this was the 
professed rule in the family, and I thought it as likely to 
be so there as at most places. There, several negroes with 
clubs were chasing a hog. Said I, " What are you going to 
do with the hogT^ "Kill um,^^ was the reply. "What 
are you going to kill him for V " To eat.^' I learned that 
the hog had been given to them by their master, to be 
butchered for themselves ; which they did, and made use of 
it. Had any one offered such a beast to him, for such a 
purpose, he no doubt would have been greatly insulted. 

It was a favorite theory that the negro is an inferior race, 
of small intellect, and not capable of much mental improve- 
ment or scientific attainments ; yet it was argued that it was 
unsafe to educate them, for education and knowledge gives 
power, and if they were educated, they could not be kept in 
bondage ; and, therefore, to protect the peace and safety of 
the country against outrage from those black savages, it was 
policy to enact laws to prevent their education, which was a 
tacit acknowledgement that the negro is naturally so near 
their equal, that if they gave him an equal chance with 
themselves, they could not keep him below theni. 

That there are many negroes who are naturalty smarter 



48 

tlian their masters, is a fact so notorious to any southern 
man of common sense and observation, that he well knows 
that any one who denies it, is either simple, ignorant or dis- 
honest. By the labor of such, many have been raised, sup- 
ported and furnished with the necessaries and luxuries of 
life, and all necessary advantages for mental culture, im- 
provement and qualification for usefulness; and, with all, 
have never arrived at anything worthy of notice. Some of 
whom have all their lives been an expense, and, by their 
own labor, have never paid for their nourishment; while 
there was many a servant who possessed a bright intellect, 
capable of such development and improvement, as would 
enable them to perform the duties of the highest offices in a 
manner that would do honor to any man, of any color. 

Yet, with all these natural advantages, they were com- 
pelled to spend their days in servile labor for those who 
were much their inferiors in capacity. Thus they were fet- 
tered down in obscurity, under the infamous epithets heaped 
upon their unfortunate race. Yet, in despite of all the em- 
barrassing circumstances with which they were surrounded, 
their superior talents would sometimes break forth like sun- 
beams through the parting cloud, In some of their discour- 
ses, such was the eloquence, clearness and force with which 
they expressed themselves upon subjects of the greatest im- 
portance, that honest white men, of common capacities, were 
heard to exclaim, " It makes me feel mighty little to hear 
that nigger preach." 

Some are ready to say such are rare cases. Just about as 
rare, in proportion to their number and circumstancas, as 
what is called self made men among white people, who, by 
their own energetic efforts, unaided by others, have, from 
obscurity and nothing, risen to stations of distinction, influ- 
ence and honor. If God has endowed them with capacities 
for performing so much, how criminal in his sight must 
those be, who, for their own pecuniary interests, keep them 
fettered down in ignorance, under circumstances calculated 
to break down and crush out every noble principle of their 
nature, deprived, in many instances, of everything calcula- 
ted to inspire and encourage ambition for, and a sense of 
personal honor, honesty and claims for respectability, to in- 
crease and perpetuate degradation, foster and cherish all 
manner of corruption and licentiousness that human deprav- 
ity can instigate. 



49 

Tlie laws of the land authorized the breaking up and 
tearing assunder of the tenderest ties, nearest and dearest 
and most consoling relationships that God has instituted or 
the human family enjoyed, for promoting their comfort and 
welfare, while sojourning in this world of trouble and sor- 
row, and for securing the better interests in eternity. Such 
things have often been done at the pleasure of the owners 
to accomplish their selfish purposes and plans of pecuniary 
interest, to the deep mortification, distress and depression of 
spirit to the slaves, who were represented as being without 
natural affection, having a woolly head, flat nose, thick lips, 
sleek, black skin, and a strong odor ! A picture, from the 
thought of which it would seem that refinement and good 
taste would almost shrink and recoil. Yet all this could be 
surmounted, and those creatures, so disgusting, revolting 
and repugnant to their refined feelings, could be made one 
flesh with the noble, refined and highest grade of human 
beings. 

In the scripture it is said : " He that oppresseth the poor 
reproacheth his Maker," and that God has made of one 
blood all nations, to dwell on the earth, and that he is no re- 
specter of persons, but, in every nation, he that feareth him 
and worketli righteousness is accepted of him. 

The Ethiopians are recognized in scripture as being of the 
nations of the earth • and as God has not only given the 
leopard his spots, but the negro his complexion, features 
and form ; then, whoever reproaches and mistreats him on 
account of these things, reproaches his Maker, and is guilty 
of blaspheming the character of Him who is the author of 
that, on account of which he claims the right to treat him 
differently from all other people. 

Of late years, people professing to be christians, the light 
of the world and the salt of the earth, have had the audaci- 
ty to charge the Almighty Ruler and Judge of all the earth, 
who will do right, with being the Author of the institution 
that authorizes such conduct toward fellow beings. 

As this is done in the last and only christian and civil- 
ized nation under heaven, that tolerates this institution, and 
is one that makes claims to superior light, improvements, 
&c., is it strange that the Almighty should arise to vindi- 
cate the honor and dignity of his character against the re- 
proach of such a charge, from such a source, that he should 
ride forth in the garments of vengeance, to purify with 



50 

judgment, smiting them witli madness and blindness, and 
sending them strong delusion, leaving them to go mad upon 
their idols, and become the weapons of his indignation, the 
instruments in his hands of executing his righteous judg- 
ments upon themselves and the idol of their choice, which 
they have chosen to their own destruction, and confusion of 
their own faces, and to their own shame and reproach among 
the nations, in whose eyes the Lord shall be exalted, when 
they shall hear of his judgments and fear. In that day when 
the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the loftiness 
of men shall be brought low, the Lord alone shall be ex- 
alted. 

Some would gravely tell us that the color and hondage of 
the negro race, is the curse pronounced upon Ham, for his 
sin in the case of his intoxicated father. Without conde- 
scending to controvert such a theory, I shall just remark, 
that if all crimes of equal magnitude had been visited upon 
the perpetrator and his posterity in a similar way, I think 
by this time there would have been neither white nor free 
people in the world ; and if the degree of human criminali- 
ty is to be shown by the blackness of their complexion, I 
am constrained to think that some of the white people of 
the present age are destined at some time to be the blackest 
creatures in the universe, unless there are others, who, ov^^- 
ing to superior capacities and opportunities, can commit 
greater crimes ; for if they are not sinners above all men 
that dwell upon the earth, surely, it is because they have not. 
caj^acity to be so. 

The civil laws, though generally good, were often badly 
executed, and the guilty often went unpunished, and the in- 
nocent, especially if pure and virtuous, frequently suiFered 
wrong without redress, while perpetrators of the greatest 
crimes and outrages, if wealthy, could generally go unpun- 
ished. This was a strong temptation to the injured party to 
resort to unlawful and violent means for redress. The knife 
and the pistol were the weopons used by the combatants of 
the wealthier class, who were generally well provided with 
such means of defense. To fight without weapons, was 
thought to be a vulgar and ungentlemanly game, only fit for 
negroes and underlings, who, also, were too fashionable and 
polite to condescend to old style. 

Fashions, like manners, from courts descend, 
And what the great begin the vulgar end: 



51 

Though to carry, send or accept a challenge to fight a duel, 
was a crime, punishable by law, yet it was resorted to as the 
most brave and honorable mode of deciding differences be- 
tween contending parties. Challenges were not only given 
and accepted, duels fought and the actors screened from the 
law, but, if I am not mistaken, some such characters were 
candidates for, and promoted to the highest offices of honor 
and trust that a State can confer on a citizen. 

Means honest and dishonest were resorted to, publicly and 
privately, by office seekers and their understrappers ; their 
hands were full of Bibles and their mouths with falsehoods. 
The public and private treat bought many an unworthy vote, 
and perhaps put many a wretch into high office, who was 
more worthy of a gallows or penitentiary. 

While it was admitted on all hands that negroes should 
not be allowed to vote, there were scores of white men who 
could neither read nor write, and who were more ignorant in 
the most important matters pertaining to both Christ and 
State than many a good man's negro ; and doubtless many 
who were not so ignorant sold their votes, or cast them in a 
certain way, for the indulgence of a beastly appetite, or to 
aid in promoting a member of some oath bound fraternity 
to office. 

Among the hungry swarms of office seekers that roamed 
around and infested those southern regions, was a class of 
people called preachers, professing to be ministers of the 
gospel, some of whom not only claim to be ministers of the 
gospel, but members of the only true church, regularly de- 
scended from the apostles, and who alone have legal church 
authority, and her ministers the only authorized persons to 
administer the ordinances of the church, and whose privi- 
lege it is to say to all others Stand off, for I am more holy 
than thou. Yet, for the sake of securing their promotion to 
stations of honor and profit, they could condescend to fur- 
nish intoxicating drinks in order to obtain the aid of a low, 
grovelling, unprincipled class of people, who loved the in- 
toxicating bowl better than their family or country. And 
if some of those high pretenders were not grossly misrepre- 
sented, they could participate freely in this luxury them- 
selves to the animation of their own animal nature. 

The language of the evangelical prophet might well be 
used in reference to a people where such things exist : "The 
whole head is sick and the heart is faint ; from sole of the 



52 

foot to crown of the head there is no soundness in them, hut 
wounds and bruises and putrifying sores." 



CHAPTER III. 

PERSONAL CONCERNS AND INCIDENTS. 

Having lived in what is now called Lownds county, Miss., 
(with the exception of three months) from June, A. D. 
1820, to 1848 or 1849, and having settled myself with a 
family, and also having engaged in the gospel ministry — to 
this I was desirous to devote the remainder of my days — 
but as there were a number of different denominations, and 
more preachers than had much ground to occupy, I felt it 
my duty to look out for another field of labor, and after 
visiting different sections of country, I arranged a chain of 
appointments in Fayette and Marion counties, in Alabama, 
where I labored some time in hopes of usefulness ; but the 
distance from home was so great, that it was attended with 
great inconvenience and loss of time — as in those regions 
back from the advantages of market, there was less of the 
vanity and extravagance of the pride of life, than prevailed 
in localities more convenient to trade, and as there were good 
winter and summer ranges, and I could live at much less 
expense and be more convenient to my appointments — I 
rented out my farm in Mississippi and spent about two years 
in Alabama, when I returned to my former residence, after 
having undergone many hardships, and past through many 
discouraging circumstances : in clearing land, building 
houses, attending appointments far and near, teaching school 
at a distance from home, and from that to which all have to 
be subjected who will live Godly in Christ Jesus. 

When I returned things were much deranged and out of 
repair, and much labor required which had to be done with 
my own hands, which left little opportunity for study or 
ministerial labors. I was thus left without means to go to 
another country to obtain a situation adapted to my case. 

In view of so much of my past life being spent apparently 
* — 5 



64 

to little profit, and the period of my life to whicli I was then 
advanced, and no visible door of usefulness being open be- 
fore me, and everything hanging in a state of suspense as to 
what course I should pursue, I felt as if I was unnerved, 
overwhelmed in darkness, and all my energies paralyzed. I 
felt the ravages of disease and premature old age preying 
upon my vitals, and, by those circumstances, as with a fire 
shut up in my bones. 

I was fettered and gagged, while vanity and wickedness 
were stalking abroad with gigantic strides, and error and the 
seeds of corruption and iniquity were being sown broadcast 
over the land, and were springing up and ripening for an 
awful harvest of fearful calamity and woful destruction ; 
in view of which my feelings were made to correspond with 
the language of the Psalmist : " Oh, my God, my soul is 
cast down within me." " My feet were almost gone ; my 
steps had well nigh slipped ;" not so much because I was 
envious of the prosperity of the wicked, as because they 
were permitted to prosper and enjoy so many blessings so 
long without their iniquities being visited with tokens of 
Divine displeasure, while the unfortunate, humble and self- 
denying were so often afflicted, downtrodden, disregarded, 
forgotten, and subjected to so many trials and troubles. I 
was almost ready to conclude that I was an ultraist, and had 
understood the laws of God to be more strict than he had 
intended them, (and that surely I had chastened myself and 
undergone self-denial and privation in vain,) and therefore 
it was that he was dealing so gently and kindly with those 
whom I had thought were so guilty in the sight of His just 
and holy law. Yet I could not be persuaded that the day of 
their calamity was not rapidly approaching. 

Though I am no friend to superstition, and to giving in- 
terpretations to every foolish dream, yet I have had dreams 
and impressions and have noticed occurrences that appeared 
so indicative of something of serious importance, that I 
could not forget them. 

Previous to, during, and some time after my sojourn in 
Alabama, my slumbers were often rendered uncomfortable 
by distressing visions : one in particular was repeated I know 
1 ot how often, in which I saw two armies approachiug each 
other at the place of mortal conflict, and about to engage in 
the dreadful work, while part of my relations were in one 
and part in the other, and as I knew of no reasonable cause 



55 

of differenee, or anything to justify such a course, I was 
anxious to dissuade them from their purpose, which, I felt, 
would soon result in the loss of life ; but was saved from 
witnessing the reality, except on one occasion, which was 
some years previous, and was a most shocking sight. 

In a dream, I saw two opposing armies coming in close 
contact, when, by stratagem, effected through the instrumen- 
tality of dogs, by which those with whom I was allied, di- 
verted the attention of the others from them, and, at the 
same moment, making a sudden dash on them, put the last 
one to the ground with the bayonet, which, to me was a most 
shocking sight. And what made it more distressing to me 
was, my oldest son, who was then a small boy, appeared to 
enjoy it as a scene of pleasant amusement. 

Another vision comes to view : A large and furious rat- 
tlesnake made its appearance in my father' house, passing 
over the floor half erect, sounding the alarm with his rattle, 
and producing much trouble and alarm to those present, the 
particulars of which I omit. I remarked to a brother shortly 
after, that if there was anything indicated by dreams, there 
was reason to fear that the old enemy was going to get into 
business in our church or family connection. Not long af- 
ter I learned that things were then in progress that after- 
ward involved the whole church and family connection in 
trouble, and subjected many of them to deep distress and 
sore trials, the affects of which are visibly and sensibly felt 
to the present day, though it began more than a dozen years 
ago, and many of those concerned in and affected thereby, 
are now in their graves, whither those that remain are ra- 
pidly tending, while the adversary is still going at large, 
seeking whom he may devour. 

And death and hell close at his heels, 
On thousands prey at daily meals. 

Again, unusual discords in church music, were accompa- 
nied with the painful impression that they were premoni- 
tions of trouble in the church, and discord among brethren, 
all of which I afterwards witnessed to my heart's sorrow 
and deep mortification. 

Again, on a certain occasion, as I arrived at, or before 
noon at a place, which had been dear to me on account of 
the manifestations of the Divine presence there enjoyed in 
former days, there I saw bats flying around in open sun- 



56 

shine, when the following suggestions presented themselves 
to my mind : Perhaps the time is at hand when the deeds 
of darkness, which have generally been done only in secret, 
or in a sly and cautious manner, out of shame of being seen 
or known by decent society, would be practiced boldly and 
shamelessly before all classes. Whether those suggestions 
were correct or not, those acquainted with what has since 
transpired there may decide. 

So strong were the impressions of a certain kind, at the 
time of the death of several friends of which I was igno- 
rant at the time, that I was lead to say to some one present, 
that if what I experienced had any signification, we would 
be apt to hear of some of our friends dying about that time, 
which proved to be really so. Whether such things were 
accidental, or the effect of a supernatural influence, my read- 
ers may judge. 

On the 4th of July, previous to a presidential election, 
not long after my return from Alabama, I went to Columbus 
on business, but as there was a public dinner and speaking on 
hand, the business houses were all shut but one, into which 
I went, but not finding the article I wished to obtain, I re- 
mained there till the people returned from the celebration. 
Several persons being there, they soon began to interrogate 
me with regard to my politics, and the way I was going to 
vote. Upon this subject I said little; and not wishing to 
have anything to do with political controversy, I asked how 
Solomon's politics took with them there ? One of them 
pertly replied that some of his politics took very well with 
them there. Understanding what they had reference to, I 
felt as if I had made an unfortunate blunder, and for a while 
said nothing more; but as they stopped in more decent 
bounds than I expected, I remarked to them that perhaps 
they had not understood what I had allusion to. I observed, 
"Solomon says : 'Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is 
a reproach to my people.' " Said I, "These are Solomon's 
politics, and they are mine. We have an old book of laws 
for the government and regulation of our conduct, and if 
we act according to their requirements, we have the al- 
mighty power and unchangeable promise of the sovereign 
Ruler of the universe, pledged for our protection and de- 
fense, and we will be an exalted, prosperous nation. But if 
we trample under foot and disregard those rules, we may hold 
as many political meetings, have as many great speeches, 



57 

call as many councils to devise wise schemes of political pol- 
icy as we please, all our devices, councils and seliemes of 
human policy will be carried headlong, and we will all go to 
destruction together" 

In the latter course they were rapidly tending, and with 
increased velocity, as time advanced, and the old passed 
from, and the young took the stage of action, with their 
claims to superior endowment and qualifications, to speed 
the march of improvement in this progressive age of light 
and knowledge ; while corruption of morals and forgetful- 
ness of God were generally on the increase. Politics, world- 
ly pleasure, wealth and power, were the all absorbing topics. 

Grain was preferred to godliness and sometimes passed for 
it, though obtained by ungodly means. The smooth faced 
stripling, especially if he had enjoyed the high privilege of 
being nursed by a negress, could dictate to the man of hoary 
locks and many years, how he should vote, and think, and 
act, in all important matters, and could say a great deal 
about the right and the wrong among political parties and 
opinions. 

As time passed on, we heard of Whig, Democrat, Repub- 
lican and Know-Nothing, all praised and extolled, all re- 
proached and villified, all justified and all condemned, by 
their advocates and opposers. The institution of African 
slavery became a great matter, that ought not to be spoken 
against, and much was said in its defense and justification, 
to relieve the minds of those who doubted its propriety and 
feared the consequences that would result from it. Pro- 
slavery men maintained that the negroes in America were in 
their proper sphere, and the only one for which they were 
capacitated, and that those in America were in a better con- 
dition than the same number of their race were anywhere 
else, now, or ever had been ; that they were more enlight- 
ened and comfortably provided for, and hence it was a great 
blessing to the negro race. And, according to this theory, 
it was quite a righteous, worthy and commendable thing to 
participate in, encourage, defend, support and extend the 
institution. Yet they acknowledged that it was ruining the 
white race, making them effeminate and worthless. 

An ultra pro-slavery candidate for the state legislature, 
while in my house previous to the last election, previous to 
the rebellion, speaking upon this subject, remarked, that it 
was impossible to train a family to business as they ought to 



58 

be, where they have many servants, for if parents told their 
sons or daughters to do anything, they would tell a servant 
to do it, rather than do it themselves. He then told an an- 
ecdote, illustrating the ignorance of some southern ladies of 
the process by which their daily comforts and luxuries of 
life were provided. He had heard of one who asked her 
mother which of the cows gave the buttermilk ! 

It is a ftict that ought to be clear to the understanding of 
every person of common sense and observation, who has 
much knowledge of human nature, that, provided it could 
be fully proved and established from divine authority, that 
the negro ought to be in bondage to the white people, and 
of course it was the duty of some whites to have them If, 
then, the owning of them would subject the possessor to dis- 
advantages in the way of property, honor, ease and influ- 
ence in the world, as groat as the advantages it has giA^en 
them in these respects, it would hold good as a general rule 
that those who have been the most anxious to own them 
would be the lost people that would be persuaded that they 
were the persons whose duty it was to own them. So that 
it is plain that the origin of the happy lot of slaves in 
America, so far as man has been concerned, has been owing 
to his supreme selfishness ; and as to the benefit they have 
been to the blacks, for this they have their reward ) and as 
to the blessing derived to the African race, through the in- 
stitution of slavery in America, it is not so much attributa- 
ble to their good will to the African, as to the fact that, as 
Grod makes the wrath of man to praise Him, and the remain- 
der of wrath He will restrain — so He has made their pride 
and covetousness to praise Him, and has so overruled men's 
selfish purposes as to make them instrumental in accomplish- 
ing His benevolent designs. And while they are ready to 
say in the boasting language of Nebuchadnezzar of old : 
"Have I not done it by the might of my power and for the 
glory of my majesty ?" He who has made all things for 
himself, even the wicked for the day of evil, is ruling in the 
armies of Heaven, and doing his pleasure among the inhabi- 
tants of the earth, who are fulfilling his purposes without 
meaning it so. 

About this time I was led to remark to my family that 
the institution of slavery I thought was very near its end, 
that people were given over to blindness and madness, where- 
by they would hasten its destruction. 



59 

We had novr arrived at the border of the mighty vortex 
of a bloody judgment by secession, and the smoke from the 
pit was darkening the air, and a great dust being raised 
about, making and breaking, proposing and rejecting condi- 
tions of compromise between free and slaveholding states, 
the rights of Congress in territorial governments, and much 
was said about John Brown and his negro riot in Virginia, 
and abolitionists instigating insurrection of negroes. The 
honorable congressmen were strewing the southern states 
with their speeches in Congress, in defense of southern 
rights. 

I need not say much about the favorite policy of the lead- 
ing men of the south, the part acted by their delegates to 
the Baltimore convention. Their object in so doing, which 
is well known to all intelligent persons, was a pretext for the 
course they afterward pursued. But the minds of the peo- 
ple were not prepared for participating in such a policy. 
But when Yancey's secession scheme began to be published 
through the country, so far as I know it was thought by the 
people generally, to be a shocking exhibition of the highest 
degree of madness and folly. 

I somehow heard about this time, that there was a boast 
or threat made by some that there was a secret organization 
at work, that would, at some not far distant period, make a 
demonstration that would surprise the people. And no 
great marvel, for this was the sanctified means of this age of 
light, for the accomplishment of those professedly the best 
and most noble enterprises. And unquestionably, the policy 
of the principal leaders was to prepare a way for, and pre- 
cipitate the peoole into the measure of secession ; and, for 
this purpose, newspapers and public speeches must teem 
with folse and exagerated representations of northern people, 
and of their wrong- and unlawful deeds and designs against 
the south, and then get up an excitement and state of alarm 
among the ignorant and jealous hearted southern people, as 
if they were then suffering great and unreasonable wrongs 
from northern people, and were in great danger of being op- 
posed and robbed of their rights by them. 

Breckcnridge and Bell were the only candidates for pres- 
ident worthy of respectable notice, where I was acquainted. 
Whether it was because Lincoln was called a black iiepubli- 
can, or from some other cause, it was no uncommon report 
that he was a negro or mixed blood, and I know not how 



60 

many believed that it was so. As to Hamlin, it was a cer- 
tainty that he was of the negro kind — 

It was a fact exceeding plain 
That one lie was of cursed seed, 
Bearing the mark of Adam's Cain, 
Or that of Noah's Hamish breed. 

A number of public dinners were given by the Bell and 
Breckinridge parties, the former claiming to be for the Union, 
the latter for seceding, each of which had their far-famed 
speakers, and great demonstrations were made, and a vast 
amount of time and money's worth was spent at those meet- 
ings. 

After this course of things had begun, as I was one day 
returning from Columbus, I was overtaken by a Presby- 
terian minister with whom I had long been acquainted. He 
had that day been attending one of those political meetings, 
where he had for the first time heard secession openly advo- 
cated in public speeches, and appeared very much disquieted 
at such conduct. He also told me of a Union, or Bell meet- 
ing that was soon to come off, and requested me to give my 
brother (a minister of long standing) notice of it, and in- 
vited me to attend. I did not agree to do so, but asked if 
he did not see that those who kept av/ay from such places 
were nearly all the rational, dispassionate men we had 
amongst us ? He said, it really looked so, but things had 
got to such a pass that all ought to go, and requested me to 
attend. 

Said I, " You wish me to attend and go mad like the rest 
of them, do you ? I think people would do better for them- 
selves and the country if they would take those men who 
were going round making exciting speeches, and hang them 
or put them in the penitentiary." He said it would have 
been well, he suppose^, if Yancey had been hanged. 

But the excitement was pressed forward till it appeared 
that people were by multitudes given over to the greatest 
madness and blindness to their own welfare, and they had 
gotten so far ahead that before the election came off, a call 
was made, and some volunteers were obtained for the express 
purpose of going to Washington to prevent Lincoln, if elect- 
ed, from taking the Presidency. 

It was said to be a prevailing notion among the negroes, 
that if Lincoln was elected they would be free, and that in 



61 

some instances they had become quite insolent, telling their 
owners that when Lincoln was elected, they then would be 
as free as they were. And we had startling accounts of the 
detection of horrid insurrectionary plots among the negroes. 
It was reported, and perhaps correctly, that the negroes 
were frequently holding night meetings, the object of which 
was concealed from the whites. While these things were 
scared at and spoken against as being dangerous to the peo- 
ple, I was tempted to treat some of the advocates of secret 
socities as Elijah did the prophets of Baal, inasmuch as 
they represented them as being good and necessary institu- 
tions, and denied that there was anything wrong in the 
principle, or anything in them that had the appearance of 
evil or justified suspicion, or that had a tendency to evil con- 
sequences. I could say to them, using their own language, 
that there was nothing harmful or dangerous in secret asso- 
ciations, and the whites had let their light so shine through 
their secret associations, that the negro, seeing their good 
works, had been induced to imitate their good example, by 
getting up something of a similar kind, for the accomplish- 
ment of some good purpose ; and as "what the great begin 
the vulgar end," they ought to be allowed to enjoy the ben- 
efit of it, and to be encouraged in a good thing. But it was 
not generally conceded that negroes had any business with 
such societies, though according to the principles held forth 
in the Declaration of Independence, they are the only peo- 
ple in America whose circumstances would justify them in 
the institution of such organizations. 

When the result of the election was known, many ap- 
peared greatl} provoked, that an abolitionist was to be our 
president. Some were declaring that they never would live 
under a president that negroes had elected. On one occa- 
sion I ventured to remark that I supposed the speaker would 
as soon live under a president that good, free negroes had 
elected, as one that mean white people had elected. But it 
appeared that I was in the wrong place, and had made a 
mistake, for I was soon zealously assailed by southern devo- 
tees, and particularly by one, who was neither very white, 
intelligent, nor possessed very good morals, and whose place 
in God'"s account, I had no doubt, was fjir below that of a 
good negro, bond or free. But I understand he has long 
since fallen a victim upon the altar of free will ofi"erings, a 
sacrifice in the service of the confederate faith. Some hav- 
—6 



62 

ing Cainish countenances, accompanied with violent ner- 
vous excitement and passionate gestures were emphatically 
exclaiming, " The old scamp, he shall never take his seat at 
Washington !" 

The people were sadly divided, some advocating and some 
opposing the policy of secession ; the secessionists growing 
more rabid, assuming, overbearing and grasping after the 
reins of government. It was remarked by some Union men, 
that whenever a man turned in favor of the seceding party 
he lost all his reason, and a person might as well reason with 
a stump, as with him. 

On one occasion, before I was aware of the malignant, 
stage to which the excitement had progressed in the minds 
of the people, while in a store house in the town of Colum- 
bus, where, for the sake of showing a decent respect to one, 
who had some claims to human shape, but had lost his hear- 
ing, and then appeared to be acting under the influence of 
beefsteak madness, I had to stand and listen to a long and 
acrimonious story of grievous and insufferable wrongs, that 
southern people were being subjected to by the northern 
policy. When I was relieved from him, the proprietor 
stepped forward and asked me if I could receive the other 
man's views. I said I could not. He then gave another 
detail of grievous wrongs and consequent hard times, and 
said that unless we took measures to prevent it there was 
worse coming. He then asked me what I thought of it — 
and I was not aware that it was then unsafe for a man to ex- 
press his sentiments honestly, when asked to do so. I tried 
to comply with his request, and as I had lately heard some- 
thing of what was up, and my feelings were considerably 
stirred, I expressed myself to the following effect : If the 
people go on with their plans for protection and defense, 
they will pull down upon their own heads the very thing 
they are trying to prevent; and, instead of having good 
reason for complaining of oppression and hard times, the 
worst of all with us, is that we have more than we have a 
heart to make good use of. We have no just sense of the 
worth of what we enjoy, and what it cost our forefathers to 
secure it to us, and by the abuse of these good things, and 
their improper use in the course we are now pursuing, we 
are revelling, as it were, in the blood of our fathers. 

Only look around and view the prosperity of the country, 
see how rapidly it is improving, and people are accumulating 



63 

wealth, so as to be able to indulge in a higb degree of luxu- 
ry and extravagance, so that many of them in one year can, 
and do spend more mony for fashionable and fancy articles, 
and in the indulgeance of acquired appetites and habits, 
than their forefathers did in a whole lifetime, and yet we 
are murmuring and complaining of hard times and oppres- 
sion. In view of these things, I feel that if justice was let 
loose upon us, it would sweep such a generation to destruc- 
tion from the face of the earth. Now, sir, what do you 
think of it? In a more subdued tone of voice he replied 
that there was too much truth in what I had said, and that 
we did not appreciate our blessings as we ought : that we 
were a highly favored people, and greatly blessed with full 
barns and stores. Said I, not quite all of this just now, for 
we have been visited by droughts, and blights that have cut 
short the fruit of our labor, and we have been threatened 
with famine, and believed our wickedness had been the cause 
of it. What do you think of that ? He said he did not think 
so, but, according to his observation, the wickedest men gen- 
erally fared as well, if not better, than any; and he kept on 
with a long routine of sayings upon the subject, without 
giving any opportunity for a reply till he had to wait on a 
customer. I waited for him to return and pursue his sub- 
ject, but he remained silent. 

After silently looking him in the face for some time, I 
said I was waiting to hear him out, to see the applicability 
of what he had to say upon the subject. He said he had 
not time to spend talking upon the subject, and he supposed 
I had not either. I said I never pushed myself into such 
discussions, but when I took hold of a subject I wished to 
go through with it. Said he, I know you are a modest man 
and I hope we will not fall out about it. As he was anx- 
ious to get rid of the subject it was never mentioned by us 
again, though I often saw him after they had begun to reap 
the fruits of which they had been sowing, and thought he 
recollected and felt the truth of what I had said to him. 

Great anxiety and disquietude pervaded the minds of all 
classes of people, and vigorous efforts were made by the fire- 
eaters, to get the slave states to withdraw from the Union 
especially the gulf states, for if they could get a peaceable se- 
cession there were as many states as they wanted, for they said 
if the border states went with them , in the course of fifty or six- 
ty years, which was a short period in the history of a nation 



64 

tliey would want to be free states, and the same battle 
would have to be fought again, and they would prefer being 
without them, unless they had to fight for their indepen- 
dence. In that case they would need their assistance to 
whip the Yankees, though they talked loudly of a peaceable 
secession. But they said if they could not get it peaceably, 
if it should ever come to a fight, the Yankees would get 
badly whipped, for one Southron could whip some said two, 
some five, some ten, and some twenty Northern men ; and, 
if I have not forgotten, some were claiming the promise that 
" one should chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to 
flight," for the Yankees were anything but good, honest, 
noble and brave men. 

It was the soldiers from Southern States, they said, that 
did the fighting in Texas and Mexico, and achieved all the 
brilliant victories on the frontier, by which the new terri- 
tories were acquired, from which treacherous Yankees had 
been scheming to exclude Southern rights ; and by the aid 
of stolen and runaway negroes, have elected a black Aboli- 
tionist for President, who had pledged himself to his party 
to do all he could to destroy slavery in America, and whose 
grand object would be to abolish slavery in the Southern 
State, take their servants from and equalize them with, and 
make them work like negroes. 

Shall they do it, said they ; Heaven forbid ! No ; they 
may kill us, but they cannot make slaves of us ; we will die 
before we will be servants. God has given us these servants, 
and in his word has authorized and recognized the relation 
of master and servant, and pointed out their relative duties, 
and He will not let them accomplish their cruel, unjust and 
wicked designs against a righteous, innocent and noble- 
hearted people ; but will subject them to a shocking defeat, 
and fearful overthrow, to their astonishment and confusion, 
and to the deliverance and exaltation of the right. 

As the dissolution of the Union was the great object to be 
obtained, and difficult to effect, owing to the strong Union 
feeling that still remained and prevailed amo g all 
classes of intelligent people, and as, according to the 
principles of Democracy, the right of government is in 
the people, and the majority must rule, the impend- 
ing crisis was that of independent State sovereignty, 
over which, it was said, the Federal Government has 
no Constitutional right to exercise coercive authority or 



65 

control, and this was the vessel rigged up by fork-tongued, 
red-mouthed fire-eaters to glide out of the Union on, and to 
have a claim to having proceeded according to Democratic 
principles. 

The voice of the citizens of the States was called for, 
which was to be exposed by their votes for Union and anti- 
Union delegates, who were oppointed to meet in State con- 
ventions, where it was agreed to be decided according to the 
majority of the votes whether they would remain in or go 
out of the Union. 

The election was held, and, as I understood, many knew 
nothing of it till it was past, and in some places they were 
not represented at all, and in others — as they were not quite 
awake to what was in progress — failed to attend. 

Again, where it was fully understood, there were many 
Union men, nearly no Union votes were given, and the only 
reason I heard assigned for it was that they were afraid of 
the opposing party. And thus, in some instances, a majority 
of votes was obtained by a minority of those who had a 
right to vote, and where a decided majority was for the 
Union the opposition party managed it so as to force the 
ordinance of secession upon the State, and all the while 
were making a great clamor against coercion. 

Were all the seceded States to tell the whole truth with 
regard to the means by which that end was accomplished, it 
would set the matter forth in the light in which it ought to 
be seen. But when a State was claimed to have seceded, 
many who had previously been Union men, and believed 
secession wrong, yet as the State was claimed to have seced- 
ed they then appeared to feel bound to go with it, and it 
became a popular saying : " I am for my country, right or 
wrong," and there is no sense in one opposing everybody. 

Now three unclean spirits, like frogs, were leaping and 
croaking all over the Southern States, from the mouth of 
the beast that had a foot like a bear, (the institution of 
African slavery,) and of the dragon, (Satanic policy, which 
by falsehood and misrepresentation perverts righteous la\^s 
and governments to corrupt and selfish purposes,) and of the 
false prophet, (the class of people that were crying peace ! 
peace! and predicting a peaceable secession, and were offer- 
ing to bet that there would be no war, nor a gun fired ; to 
pay the expense of the war ; to drink all the blood that 
would be shed in the contest, etc. 
* R 



66 

The pestiferous gas of these filthy creatures was issuing 
from not only farm yards, lanes and fence corners, but from 
the stump and stand in the grove, field and fair ground, and 
pulpit in the church, and from the cellar, street corners, 
court house and city hall, till soon the time came when the 
man who would not openly acknowledge that he was in for 
the southern confederacy, and was for his country, right or 
wrong, was no patriot, but a tory or mean submissionist, and 
did well to be cautious in his words. 

To defend the confederacy, armies must be raised, to with- 
stand Yankee invasion and to compel the federals to relin- 
quish their pretended claims to places and property in the 
Confederate States. Great honors were to be obtained, and 
lasting renown inherited by the noble and brave boys who 
would give their voluntary services in a cause identical with 
that in which our forefathers fought under the immoraal 
Washinton, and achieved the glorious boon of American 
liberty and free government; and it was understood that 
those who would not avail themselves of the advantage of 
securing to themselves such high honors, if needed, would 
have to go into the service by the dishonorable process of 
drafting, which no noble-hearted American would do him- 
self the discredit to wait for. It was said that in some in- 
stances, when the men were slow to volunteer, the ladies of- 
fered their hoops to them, which was thought to be a cut- 
ting reproof. 

There was now a great military spirit in the land. Boys 
were drilling, and ladies were reported to be drilling at some 
places, and to be good at a mark with a pistol. A certain 
class of the wealthy were indulging the remark that there 
was plenty of scamps in the country to do all the fighting, 
and all they would want would be a suit of clothes, blanket 
and gun. 

Again, it was said, the wool hats and cotton breeches 
would do the fighting. Though at first many thought it 
would be quite a pleasure spree, and a number pitched into 
it of the wealthy class ; but many who failed to get into of- 
fice, were like a cat pitching into the fire after a mouse, and, 
if there was any chance, they soon pitched out again. In 
some instances, owing to a misunderstanding or disagreement 
between the ofiicers and soldiers, companies broke up and 
returned home, after they had been transported to some dis- 
tant point, and an indisposition to going into the service 



67 

was on the increase, and, in some places, there were strong 
symptoms of resistance. Great policy had to be used, much 
flattering teasing, persuading and cautious threatening, and 
even shaming, villifying and blackguarding were resorted to 
to get people into the ranks. A bounty, good treatment, 
high honors and immortal renown, and the good graces of all 
the fair, were to be conferred upon the manly, patriotic vol- 
unteers, who would have the chosing of their own officers, 
and have their acquaintances for messmates; while the 
skulking, cowardly, odious Union men, ortories, who would 
have to be dragged into their country's service, by draft and 
conscription, would get no bounty, and would be sent to fill 
up broken regiments among strangers, where they would be 
little cared for. Such were to be laughed and hissed at, and 
their families subjected to odium and reproach, that would 
stick to them so as not to be wiped off for many generations. 

And thus thej compassed land and water, 
And marshaled hosts for death and slaughter. 

Some were in favor of fighting under a black flag, and of 
neither giving nor taking quarter. 

Victory or death was what they said 
A cloud of black rose o'er their head, 
And thunders shook the earth below, 
And streams to ponds of blood did flow. 

The wail of death spread far around, 
And mangled heaps lay on the ground ; 
In tones of thunder justice spoke, 
Amid the scene of blood and smoke. 

As by a flood they now are swept, 
Who long have been as those who slept, 
Mid dangers thick in open day, 
Unconscious passed the time away. 

To them the call was made again : 

Return, return, ye sons of men. 

For ye are all as tender grass, 

On which the blighting winds may pass, 

Your glory all, as flowers bright, 
One hour shines, next out of sight ; 
The howling winds went sweeping o'er, 
They where they were are seen no more. 



68 

Thus man with all his pride and boast, 
Must fall and die, give up the ghost ; 
As him no longer here we see. 
The question now is, Where is he? 

The one he chose while here he staid, 

With him his future home is made ; 

Just as to Christ he gave his heart. 

Or chose in sin to have his part. .^ 



CHAPTER ly. 

INCIDENTS ILLUSTRATING THE VIEWS, FEELINGS AND DIS- 
POSITION OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE IN THE MOFNING 
OF THE CONFEDERACY. 

On the day on which the news of the seceding of South 
Carolina was received in Mississippi, I and my companion 
went to Columbus. When we were drawing near to town, 
we heard the oft repeated roar of cannon, and when enter- 
ing the borders of the city, the bells were ringing and peo- 
ple were running as if fire was raging in the city, and per- 
haps some thought it was. 

On arriving at a house where I frequently sold country 
produce, our beast had participated so much in the excite- 
ment, that it was thought to be unsafe to proceed till the ex- 
citement would pass away. The lady of the house was in 
the yard, apparently in an ecstacy of joy. Being asked 
what all that noise meant, she exclaimed, "South Carolina 
has seceded, and Mississippi will be next! We are going 
to have good times," and seemed as if she felt too light to 
touch the earth for exceeding joy, as if a long looked for 
jubilee at last was come. But, to me, it was like the fune- 
ral knell of a parent, for South Caralina was the land of my 
nativity. I felt awfully, as if in sight of death and destruc- 
tion, and solemn as if judgment and eternity had been in 
view. The horrors of war, with its distress and calamity, 
blood and carnage, in all their woful aspects, almost as in a 
picture of living fire, blazed before my imagination, so that 
I could not well contain myself, and I remarked to the re- 
joicing lady, that we felt very diff"erently on the subject, and 
if they kept on with that matter, soon many pale faces would 
be seen; and said I, "It is our pride and wickedness that is 
bringing these things upon us." She claimed for herself 



70 

that she was not proud. I replied, that I should not pre- 
tend to justify myself, for I believed we were all guilty, and 
I would acknowledge that I was worse than anyone ought 
to be, and I thought I would be willing to give her whole 
estate if I had it, to be able truthfully, to say of myself 
what she had said of herself — "I am not proud." She per- 
haps admitted that we all do wrong, but said she was above 
doing a mean act, and she knew that she had that much 
pride. 

She then began violently to criminate northern people, 
laying all the blame upon them. I replied, "We need not go 
so far to look for wrongs, when they are so plenty nearer 
home. If we would get things all right at home, we would 
not have so much to complain of abroad, and it would be ea- 
sier to have them righted there." 

Said she, " The north began it. They have been steal- 
ing our servants, and trying to keep us out of our rights 3 
they have no right to meddle with our servants. We are 
told in the Bible, that there shall be servants, and servants 
of servants. The scriptures give rules for masters and ser- 
vants to go by." Said I, " Very true ; if we would only 
go according to them, all would be right." She said she 
believed there was a people that was intended for servants, 
and that it was right, that they ought to be servants. 

Being asked who they were, she said a curse was pro- 
nounced upon Ham^ and it was said, a servant of servants 
should he be to his brethren. She was told that was not in 
the Bible. She insisted that it was. I said: "The' curse 
was pronounced upon Canaan, the son of Ham." I asked : 
"Who are his posterity? where are they now?" She 
thought they were the negro ; I thought not, and gave rea- 
sons for my belief, and asked her to prove her position. 
This she did not attempt to do. Said I, " Perhaps you are 
one of them." She said she was not. Said I, " How do 
you know ?" She said she did not think she was. Said I, 
" Prove that you are not, for perhaps you are ; and if so, 
you ought to be a servant ; and perhaps I ought to have you 
for my servant." This was not so palatable to her refined 
taste, as to do to others what she could not wish to have 
done to herself. 

Some time after this, we had some conversation concern- 
the troubles in our country, and because I said the south 
were to blame, as well as the north, she said I ought not to 



71 

be suffered to live there. I had been in the habit of fur- 
nishing her with many of her table refreshments, she then 
concluded to get her supplies elsewhere. Sometime I passed 
her by without calling, till we chanced to meet in town, 
when she lectured me for neglecting her, so I called on her 
again. 

By this time several regiments of soldiers had been raised, 
and supplies had to be furnished them, and provisions were 
getting up to an uncommon price, so she blazed out at me 
for asking high prices. Said I, " Good times have come 
now, and you can afford to pay high prices." She gave me 
to understand that she as fully as ever, believed theirs to 
be a good cause, and that the Good One would give them 
the victory at last. I was aware that it was useless, as well 
as unsafe, to spend many words on the subject. 

On another occasion, while sitting in my wagon conver- 
sing with an old acquaintance, J B , an officer in 

a vigilance committee in town, came upon me, interrupting 
our conversation. A letter had been written -fo-r him Iry' 
my brother and sent to him in an envelope, bearing the rep- 
resentation of the hanging of John Brown. This had been 
shown, perhaps the day before, by the bearer at- my house. 
Blair wished to know if the letter had been received which 
he had sent to my brother. I informed him it had. This, 
I think, was on Friday. He said my brother had desecra- 
ted the sacred desk with abolition, heretical, or perhaps in- 
fernal doctrines ; had said a slaveholder could not be a 
christian, and if he did not answer him the next day, he 
would go the next Sabbath and hang him in his own pulpit. 
Said he to me, " You sJia' n't vmlk thcsa streets — Til liang the 
last one of you^ that hold such doctrines." How much more 
he said in a threatening way I cannot now distinctly recol- 
lect. As he could not hear, I did not try to converse with 
him, but let him take his course, till he was satisfied to quit 
and leave. 

In the meantime my old acquaintances disappeared. When 
Blair v/as gone, as I did not take such treatment very kind- 
ly, I asked the merchants, before whose door this took place, 
who were witnesses to what had passed, why they suffered a 
person, who was peaceably attending to his own business, to 
be assailed in such a manner in their streets. They, look- 
ing as if they were alarmed, said they had no law there 
then. Said I, " If you do not approve it why do you suf- 



72 

fer it y On the same day I met with a brother of said 
Blair, previously postmaster, and a man of some respecta- 
bility in that place, and asked of him an explanation of his 
brother's conduct. He attributed it to a communication re- 
ceived from Aberdeen, a town some twenty miles distant 
from Columbus. I remarked that it was a strange thing 
that people who had so long been acquainted with my broth- 
er, his doctrines and manner of preaching, should give 
credit to such reports. In the church of which he was pas- 
tor, a question to the following effect had been brought for- 
ward and discussed in *presbytery : "Is the practice of buy- 
ing, selling and holding a fellow being in bondage, for the 
sake of gain, consistent with the rules that Christ gave his 
followers to be governed by ? — which^ by the vote of the 
presbytery, was decided in the negative, and was entered 
upon the church record, in connection with a resolution of 
presbytery, of about the following import : "Inasmuch as 
there is good evidence that there have been many christians 
of exemplary piety, and eminent ministers of the gospel, 
who possessed a high degree of the life and power of reli- 
gion, and whose labors have been greatly blessed iii the con- 
version of sinners, and to the edification of believers and 
the building up of the kingdom of Christ in the world, 
therefore the presbytery is of the opinion that being a slave- 
holder is not of itself a crime sufficient to exclude one from 
the church and the enjoyment of its ordinances.'' 

This, however, v^^as very mortifying to the feeling of many, 
and a rumor of it went into all the country round about and 
to many who were afar off, and perhaps assumed a hundred 
false and odious forms, very offensive and provoking to 
many. I said to Blair, if they were not satisfied as to his 
sentiments if they would go and search the church records, 
there they could learn for themselves, without any more 
trouble about it. He expressed his regret that he had not 
seen me sooner, and professed to have felt a regard for my 
brother, for he, himself, had been trained by parents of the 
same faith. 

AVhen our position in the government was spoken of I 
observed that we were acquainted with, and thought we un- 
derstood and wished to obey the command, to be subject to 
the powers that be : that we had been allowed to think for 
ourselves and exercise our judgments, and enjoy our private 



*Every church forms a presbytery. 



73 

opinions about matters. He gave me distinctly to under- 
stand that the people were not allowed to say anything 
against their confederacy. Thus I was growing in knowl- 
edge. 

When I was passing where public speeches were being 
made, and heard the cheers given by the women, moving 
sensations thrilled through my whole system, produced by 
the suggestion, that, accompanying those sounds, which was 
that they were emblematical of outcries from calamity and 
distress, that would be heard throughout the country at a 
period not very distant in the future. 

A short time before the attack on Fort Sumter, I was de- 
tained from home one night on business, I and the man of 
the house being out till after supper, while we were taking 
our meal the son was reading in a newspaper, just received, 
and when we went from supper, the son informed the father 
that the federals were making preparations to give up Fort 
Sumter. Said his father, " I knew all the time there would 
be no war, the northern people know better than to come 
here to fight. There has been nothing but quarrelling in 
Congress for several years, they have got separated now, per- 
haps we will have peace.^' 

Said I, "You recollect that it is said, when they cry 
peace, peace^ then shall come sudden destruction." The old 
lady remarked that she supposed it was better to separate 
than to have war. " Of course," said I, " if we can better 
the matter by it ; but if we separtite and have war too, we 
may not make much by the experiment. You know what is 
said of a house or a kingdom divided against itself. For 
my part, I see no grounds of hope for any lasting peace, till 
there is a reformation among the people, and they become 
more humble. In a short time after we heard of the tak- 
ing of Fort Sumter. 

After leaving Alabama and returning to my residence in 
Mississippi, I occasionally sent appointments and held meet- 
ings at a place where I had previously preached in Alabama, 
where I appeared to have won the confidence of the people, 
so as to be able to have much more influence with them than 
I could while living among them. I think in the last week 
in July, 1861, I visited that country, intending to hold a 
meeting of several days On getting into the neighborhood 
I learned that others had an appointment at the same time 
and place, that I had expected to occupy, and that on Fri- 
—7 



74 

day, the day before, there was to be a time of public speak- 
ing, and a call for volunteers at a muster ground, where they 
were then holding a camp muster, and the candidates for the 
first confederate legislature and senate, were making ready 
their last speeches, as the election was to come off the next 
week. As nearly all my acquaintances from the hill coun- 
try of Marion, Fayette, and all the region roundabout Sugar 
Creek, Luxpalile, and Bear Creek, and the inhaitants of the 
plain, and a great multitude from Yellow Creek were to be 
there, I concluded I also would go with them. And lo, a 
great mulitude of wagons, chariots, horses, mules and oxen, 
were there. A multitude of soldiers, captains, confederate 
ofiicers in military array, drums and instruments of music. 
Old men with banners, and young men and boys ; old wives 
and maidens, and a mixed multitude of women and children 
and many candidates. 

Now, the names of the seven speaking candidates were 
these : The first Senator Coleman, a minister and chief ruler 
in the synagogue of hard shells, and Sugs, a teacher of 
science, Davis and McMullen,- a minister and also a disciple 
of John Wesley, Logan, a minister of the Cumberland or- 
der and mighty in the doctrines of secessio-n, and Stidem, 
whom the Union men had elected to the state convention, 
lest the deceivers of the people should persuade their rulers 
to secede, and one Brown, who was also called Cimbo, whose 
look wa.5 more stout than that of his fellows, like unto an 
Ethiopian of great stature ; the same was mighty in gesture 
and demonstration of the power of pride, personal confidence 
and self esteem. 

Much was said by several of those men concerning the 
great defeat of the Yankees in Virginia, (sometimes called 
Yankee's Run), and the great spoils that were taken. Some 
appeared to be quite jolly at their fanciful picture of old 
Scott, making his gouti/ legs clatter in his flight from the 
victorious confederates ! The man who could tell the bi"'- 

o 

gest tale upon the subject, and make it out to be an easy 
matter to whip the Yankees and have peace upon any terms 
in a short time, was the great man of the day. They were 
very urgent with the people to volunteer, and told those who 
had wives and children they need not make that any excuse 
for not volunteering, for their families would be well provi- 
ded for, if they had to be away from them; and perhaps 
they would not have te go into the service at all, for peace 



75 

would be made in thirty days, and perhaps in twenty, if 
they would all volunteer and let the north see that they were 
determined to have their independence. 

Some of those speakers said the poor people thought they 
had no interest in the war, but they were sadly mistaken, 
for they were the people who were liable to the greatest mis- 
fortune ; for if the Yanhces gained their object the moneyed 
men would hold all the land, and the poor would be their 
tenants, as was the case in Europe, and even in some of the 
northern states of America, where the poor are worse off 
than the slaves of the south. They had a story made up of 
something intended to excite in every class of which the 
country was composed, a fear of damage to their several in- 
terests, and thus to give to each a portion in due season, to 
secure their assistance in the war. 

They told the people that the Yankees intended to come 
to the sunny south, and if they had not been defeated and 
prevented wom their purpose, by the south taking the stand 
against them that they had, their country would have b' en 
taken from them ; and they were still aiming to do it, and 
would do it, unless they were whipped and driven back. 
They said it was the object of those northern invaders to 
come and kill off the white men, take the land, free the ne- 
groes, and preserve the white women for the negroes and 
foreigners, whom they had hired to fight for them. 

These things they told for honest, serious facts, in the 
presence of all the people, to persuade them to go with one 
accord into the war, as the only remedy against insufferable 
calamity and outrage, and many appeared to receive it for the 
truth ; but I could not refrain from tears when I saw how 
those people were deceived among whom I had labored, and 
for whose welfare I had a tender regard, and whom I then 
viewed as sheep being lead to the slaughter. I then thought 
and spoke of it to my friends when I returned home, that 
they were probably then doing as did the Jews in the days 
of our Savior, when they said, if they let him thus alone, 
the Romans would come and take away their place and na- 
tion, when if they had followed his counsels it would have 
preserved the nation ; but they pursued a course that sub- 
jected them to the thing they professed to be afraid of, and 
the scripture was fulfilled which says, " The fear of the 
wicked, it shall come upon him," and they, perhaps, will do 
likewise. I then thought the people, when they found out 
their mistake, would turn with fury upon their leaders. 



76 

As I was parting witli one of my old acquaintances at the 
breaking up of the meeting, I said to him (who had the se- 
cession palsy), and about all that my feelings would permit 
me to say : "We have done that over which we 'shall weep 
when it is too late. Not many months had passed till one 
of his sons and several others of that section of country 
had fallen victims to the calamity of war, and were no more. 

In the fall I formed a succession of appointments through 
a portion of Fayette and Marion counties, Ala., which I 
sometimes attended alone, and sometimes in company with a 
nephew, who sometimes went in my stead. By this time we 
had to hear the war spoken of on all occasions, and dissatis- 
faction and disaffection pervaded the whole country. Some 
companies of volunteers had been made up in these counties 
and had gone to Tuscumbia, but owing to some improper 
management, they broke up and most of the soldiers I think 
had returned home without being sworn into service. Some 
were blaming the officers and some the soldiers, who were 
charged with running away, and were deserters. Many by 
that time were tired of the business, and not disposed to re- 
turn to the service, and different measures were taken to 
scare and persuade them back; and some were busying 
themselves about hunting them up, and were going around 
searching houses for those who were missing. This pro- 
voked the inhabitants till they were like hives of bees, 
whose lives had been rudely molested. Some of the soldierly 
women charging them bravely with the tongue, said that 
about the time they went to look under their beds, they 
would see sights and smell the patching. 

A printed proclamation was shown around among the peo- 
ple in the name of the Governor, inviting the soldiers who 
had left to return to their companies, and they should enjoy 
the rights and privileges of volunteer soldiers, without any 
damage for the past, but such as failed to do so by or before 
a specified time, would be treated as deserters. Seeing peo- 
ple reading those papers at some of my appointments, for 
my own satisfaction, I asked if they had the Governor's sig- 
nature to them, and was told they had. I afterwards learned 
that the opinion I then privately entertained was correct, 
and that the Governor was entirely ignorant of the docu- 
ment. 

The requirement for conscripting all liable to military 
duty, between the ages of 18 and 35, was published not far 



77 

from this time, but there were so many false reports that 
people neither knew nor believed much of what they heard. 

Fall and spring passed away, times getting continually 
worse, notwithstanding the many favorable and encouraging 
reports of good success and a prospect of foreign interfe- 
rence in behalf of the confederacy. According to the most 
of the reports of battles, great slaughter was made of the 
enemy, with trifling loss to themselves ; and when disasters 
were heard of, it was unpatriotic and censurable to give cur- 
rency to the knowledge of the unwelcome fact. If a man 
was friendly to the Union, his credit and safety were best 
preserved by keeping that fact mostly to himself, for aboli- 
tionisis and Union men were two of the most odious and 
dangerous characters known of in the south. 

Arrangements were next made to enroll all the male in- 
habitants between 35 and 50 years of age, and to organize 
them into companies for regular drilling, and to be in readi- 
ness for a draft, which was much looked for. People had 
volunteered and gone out of the country, till men were few, 
and, among poor people, the women, children, old men and 
invalids had to do the farming, and could not well on weak 
days take time to attend church. Under this discouraging 
state of things. I at one time had serious thoughts of giving 
up my appointments ; but rather than do that I filled three 
or four appointments on Sabbath, and the others at night. 
Meetings were generally small and much disturbed by sur- 
rounding circumstances, which were continally growing 
worse. 

In my travels I often passed the places where in times 
past they had had their political meetings and public din- 
ners, and the visible signs still remained of the multitudes 
that had formerly attended them, and the question would 
not unusually arise. But where are they now ? and where is all 
the profusion of luxuries in which they once could revel 
here ? When the melancholy response that echoed from 
scenes of camp and mortal conflict was, that many had fal- 
len upon the field of bloody contest, or of diseases in camp 
or hospital ; others were sick and many living on half ra- 
tions, j^hile many of their families at home were in uncom- 
fortable circumstances, and, being poorly furnished, were be- 
ginning to be in want of many of the necessaries of life. 

Such was the state of things connected with the country 
through which I was travelling and laboring. 
* 7 '* 



78 

One gloomy, damp Sabbath morning, as I was on my way 
to fill an appointment after a vast amount of rain which fell 
the night and evening before, I called at a house to give no- 
tice of the miserable condition of a house that I had seen 
on the way. There I was asked if I was going to preach at 
the school house that day. I said I had an appointment 
there. The man of the house said I would not have many 
to hear me. I replied that the day was quite unfavorable. 
He said that they would not be there if it was a good day. 
I asked the reason. He replied that they said I was a Union 
man, and that if I ever preached in that house again they 
would burn it down. I replied I did not know how they 
found that out. It had been told through that country 
previous to this that I was an abolitionist, and I had the 
understanding that both reports started from the same 
place, so I made it in my way and called, as I supposed, at 
the fountain head, where I found an old lady and her 
daughter seated by the fireside, and as I was damp and chilly 
an invitation to a seat with them was readily accepted. The 
father and two sons were gone to the army, which was then 
at Corinth, if it had not moved south. 

The old lady soon began to talk about the Union men, and 
to blame them with all the trouble and distress of the war. 
She said the infernal Yankees had got the railroad at Tus- 
cumbia — she wished they were all in the bad place. If she 
had them she could cut their hearts out — she could cut their 
livers into hash meat. Said I, " You certainly know that 
according to the Bible such feelings are very wrong. If you 
really mean what you say, you have need to look out for 
yourself, lest if the Yankees go to the bad place, you should 
have your part with them." She said she knew it was 
wrong, but could not help it. She was so aggravated she 
could not govern herself. She said sometimes she was so 
sorry she felt like crying, and again she would get so mad 
she could not help thinking and saying bad things, and she 
was always either mad or sorry. I said if she would try in 
the right way, she would be enabled to do better ; if she 
would commit herself as she ought to the control of the 
proper One, He would assist her in the proper control of 
herself. Said I, " It is an awful thing for people to oe so 
full of hatred and animosity that they can desire and take 
pleasure in the misery and destruction of each other. If 
they cannot bear each other here, how can they bear to 



79 

spend eternity together in the same place to which they are 
hurrying each other with all their might and fury. I talked 
with them upon the subject till their tears told the tale of 
grief upon their faces. The old lady said, if any of her 
family were killed or died in the war, she knew she would 
never see any more satisfaction in the world. 

In the course of our conversation I remarked that I sup- 
posed that by some people in that country I was thought to 
be a bad fellow, and was called an abolitionist. They ap- 
peared to be ignorant of any such thing, as if it was all new 
to them. I said if they could tell me what it took to make 
an abolitionist, I could tell them whether I was one or not. 
They said they did not know. I said it was likely that was 
the case with many who were making a noise about it, and 
did not know what they were talking about. I told them 
some of the different views people had of the subject, all of 
which made abolitionists with some people and only a part 
with others. I then told them what my sentiments were, 
and said if that mode an abolitionist they were welcome to 
tell every one they saw that I was that kind of an abolition- 
ist. The old lady said if that made an abolitionist she was 
one too, and said worse things of slavery and slaveholders 
than I had any disposition to indulge in. So enough was 
said upon that subject. 

I then turned to the subject of Union men, and said I 
w^ould not go round the stump about it — I would not claim 
to be a thing when it was popular, and when it became un- 
popular deny it — when the vote was taken I voted for the 
Union, for I believed to divide would bring war and dread- 
ful calamity, and I did not wish to have any part in bring- 
ing such things upon us ; and if I did wrong it was ignor- 
antly, with a good design, and was more to. be pitied than 
blamed. But you see, said I, my views were right, and 
secession has brought war with all its calamities. She then 
broke out against the leaders in the South, and said more 
than I was disposed to say in that line. So my task there 
was done, and the fire quenched. 

I remarked that it was time to go to the meeting house, 
and asked how many .of them were going. They could not 
say, but thought it was early. I said I would go and be 
there in time, and if they came we would see each other 
again. They kindly invited me to return for dinner. So I 
wen^ to my appointment, and, to my surprise, they were the 



80 

first that got there after I arrived. But sad the story : at 
my next visit to that place, one month after, their seat was 
vacant, and I learned that one of the young men had died, 
and his father not being expected to live, the old lady had 
gone to see him, but I think he died before she got to see 
him. 

Uncertain all things here below ; 

From blessings great, sad troubles flow. 

This was the land of immersion, 
Where the tree of science was small ; 
The land of Southern coercion, 
Where the sons of Belial were tall. 

In the District where I resided the names were now en- 
rolled, and as I was not past the age of fifty, my name was 
on the list. Notice was given that on a certain day we had 
to drill. This was one of the days when I had to be absent 
to fill my appointments. As I was going on that business, I 
was told that if I did not attend muster I would be fined, 
and have to pay five dollars. I told them my appointments 
were out, and I expected to fill them, and if they saw fit to 
fine me, they would have to do so. 

I doubted the legality of their procedure, but would have 
attended had not my appointments been out. 

They had their muster, and another was appointed. 
When it came on I attended, and asked what they were go- 
ing to do with me for my previous failure, and told them I 
wished to comply with all legal requirements, unless I had 
good reason for failing. I also inquired after the authority 
for what they were doing, and after being referred from one 
to another till I had gone the round among their professed 
officers and leaders, it was a failure — the thing sought for 
could not be found. 

After the drill, which was mostly conducted by men from 
other localities, our officers acknowledged they had no proper 
commissions, and said they would have nothing more to do 
with it till they had proper authority. But they had got 
the people together, and had men there to make speeches to 
them and pursuade them to volunteer. We were promised 
something good from a refugee from Kentucky, said to be a 
Baptist minister. In his good speech he told us we need 
not object to fighting against the Northern people for fear 
of fighting our own people, for he said they were altogether 



81 

a different people, that they were decendants of Roundheads 
and Puritans, and, if I have not forgotten, he called them 
vandals and barbarians, and charged them with many acts of 
savage cruelty and outrage against innocent and unoffending 
people, and with mistreatment and abuse of women, &c. He 
in one part of his speech warned us against the delusive 
notion that if the Federals got the government into their 
hands they would be more favorable to us for being Union 
men. " No ;" he said, "they would treat us all alike/' 

In another part of his speech, while endeavoring to im- 
press the people with a sense of how dreadful a thing it was 
to be subjugated — to what an ignominious, insufferably de- 
graded condition they would be reduced — entirely under the 
despotic power of the Northern invaders, in a voice indica- 
tive of the highest degree of contempt, said, these Union 
men will be put in authority over you, and will hold all the 
offices of profit honor and power in the government. 

Lo ! what a great horn ! what wonders it said ; 
In treason and scorn it flourished and spread ; 
Behold the great ram from terror had fled ; 
He acted a sham and cracked his own head. 

And yet with both hands, fury and ire 
He scatters the brands and cries out " Fire !" 
Thus onward they fly, wars transpire ; 
With slander and lie — hope of the liar. 

They thought, furthermore to have the Gulf States; 
And up threw the stone that cracked their own pates ; 
They never would quit what malice could aim ; 
They opened a pit — were caught in the same. 

Their covetous wish they could not forget, 
But like silly fish went into the net ; 
A fortune how great, the negroes to heir. 
They followed the bait, and entered the snare. 

They find, when too late, how much they mistook, 
In taking the bait they hung on the hook, 
And now they must find, with sorrow and cost, 
That they designed to own they have lost. 

This truth they will find, though man oft object, 
What wisdom designs that foll}^ eff"ects ; 
From those evil things the wicked project, 
The Lord often brings to happy effect. 



82 

The wrath of the vain to God shall give praise, 
And what doth remain at present he stays, 
With power and skill right onward they go, 
His plans to fulfill not meaning it so. 

One day while in Columbus, I heard some conversation 
that passed among some men on the street, who were speak- 
ing in high terms of the sentiments of Brown, ex-GrOvernor 
of Mississippi, who was represented as having said he would 
rather see the southern states sunk in oblivion than that 
they should return to the Union. "So would I," said one, 
"I would rather they were sunk to the bottom ; yes, unless 
hell is a worse place than I think it is, I would rather go 
there than go back to the old Union." 

I was informed that a popular Methodist preacher, with 
whom I was acquainted, had said that he would rather have 
every man, woman and child in the states slaughtered than 
that they should be conquered by the north. 

When the popular charge was making against the federal 
government, that its object was to free the negro, if I ex- 
pressed an opinion at all, it was that the government had 
no such design to meddle with the institution of slavery, if 
the south would behave themselves peaceably, but if they 
went to war, and it amounted to anything serious, the negro 
would be sure to come in, and it would end in the destruc- 
tion of the institution. When we had reports of great vic- 
tories in favor of the south, my opinion privately expressed 
was that the better their success in the beginning, the worse 
it would be in the end, the greater would be their damage 
and their ruin more intolerable and complete. If they had 
been defeated and had given up at the commencement, the 
loss would be comparatively trifling, whereas, if they were 
successful for a while, their loss would be incalculable at 
last. 

The southen policy was often advocated and justified in 
my presence and in my own house, and it was claimed that 
so rif;hteous and good a cause would secure the Divine favor 
for its protection, defense and ultimate success. I admitted 
it was possible they might have good reasons for what they 
were doing, that I knew nothing of; but unless they had, I 
honestly believed they were pursuing an unjustifiable course. 

Owing to a misunderstanding, I and others on a certain 
occasion went to hear a sermon, as we supposed upon the 
fulfillment of prophesy, but it proved to be in reference to 



83 

the duties of the people in matters pertaining to tlie condi- 
tion of the country, and the existing war. The speaker 
brought many accusations of grievous things against the 
northern people. They had desecrated the pulpit with po- 
litical sermons, and corrupted the gospel with abolition doc- 
trines ; but before he was through the leprosy had broken 
out in his pulpit, and the plague was raging in his discourse, 
and one thought that what he was doing for himself, he 
knew not then, but would find out hereafter. 

Though ill it did suit by chance or by guile, 
What those did pollute did this one defile ; 
And this was the song whatever betide, 
If right or if wrong I am for my side. 

This clearly reveals what all ought to see, 
Who otherwise feels a tory must be. 
This rule will stand good as all must soon find, 
No patriot blood belongs to this kind. 

Such came from the mouth of many called good, 
Who dwelt in the south and called upon God, 
To Heaven they prayed with fervent address. 
The rebels to aid and crown with success. 

The wicked their wealth at pleasure enjoyed. 

By judgment to be forever destroyed, 

The wicked rule, the people mourn, 

Of wealth and peace they must be shorn. 

Had they followed his advice in some respects, the condi- 
tion of persons confined in southern prisons would have 
been a happy one compared with what it has been. At the 
close of his discourse a Methodist class leader lead in prayer 
and opened his mouth wide for the Confederacy, and ap- 
pealed to the Lord that he knew the righteousness of their 
cause, and that peace was all that they wanted. He prayed 
for his enemies, that they might be sensible of their wrongs, 
be brought to repentance and to escape from an unjust and 
bloody war. 

As I was going to attend an appointment in Alabama, I 
was overtaken by a young widow, who was full of zeal for 
southern rights, and soon introduced the most interesting 
topic of the day, and informed me that the news was that 
the French were about to break the blockade, that it would 
be done in twenty days, if it had not been done then, I re- 



84 

marked that as we had had so many reports of that kind, all 
of which had proved to be ftdse, if that were true we could 
take no comfort from it till we realized the truth of it. The 
thought seemed to irritate her feelings. She said she hoped 
it was so, and began to abuse northern people for bringing 
on such a war, the object of which, she said, was to take 
the southern people's property from them ; the negro was 
all they were after. I told her I did not believe any such 
doctrine; I believed the government had no design or wish 
to meddle with their property, if they would behave as they 
ought, nor could they be damaged if they had remained in 
the government. She acknowledged that the south did 
wrong in seceding, but they were in the war then and they 
must fight out of it ; that they must go through with it 
right or wrong, and she thought we would gain the day ; 
that the Lord would be on onr side, and presumed that any 
one who would not aid in the cause was no patriot. 

After we had gone some distance, and she had occupied 
nearly all the time, giving me a chance to say but a few 
words, I at last said to her that I had listened to her some 
time, and asked her to hear me a while. Said I, " I will 
take the Bible for my guide in what I have to say, as the 
best and safest source from which we can learn what true 
patriotism is ; and if you will attend to the instrctions it 
will teach you whether or not it is a woman's prerogative to 
take the lead in public matters. The Lord has taught in his 
word that we, and all things, were made by him and for him, 
that our lives, all our enjoyments are dependent upon his 
pleasure. His is the right to command and our duty is to 
to obey. He has taught us our duty to him and to one an- 
other ; has given us rules to regulate our conduct towards 
our Maker and our fellow beings, under all circumstances 
and in all the relations of life. If we follow his councils 
and keep his commandments, he promises his protection and 
blessing; but if we disregard and trample his command- 
ments under foot, he has pronounced a curse upon such, 
which he will execute in judgment. He has said them that 
honor him, he will honor, smd they that despise him shall 
be lightly esteemed. Righteousness exalteth a nation, but 
sin is a reproach to any people. Then the person who acts 
most in accordance with those requirements upon which the 
welfare of individuals and of nations is suspended, is the 
truepatriot, and the best friend to his country. While those 



85 

wlio disregard these things, whatever their political profes- 
sion or their claims to patriotism may be. They are acting 
the part of enemies. When people have started in a way 
that they know to be wrong, and, because they are engaged 
in it, say they must go through with it, right or wrong, and 
hope the Lord will aid them in it, they are presumptuous to 
the highest degree. 

We need not go to other countries and other people to 
find sins and sinners enough to subject our country to calam- 
ity and trouble, but there is sin enough, both north and 
south, to subject the nation to fearful calamities. I called 
her attention to many kinds of wickedness that abounds in 
our country, not only among those who were openly and pro- 
fessedly sinners, but among many professors of religion 
whose actions contradicted their professions. We were giv- 
ing occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully, whose 
example encouraged and justified the wicked, and was a 
stumbling block iu the way of sinners. They could neglect 
the house of God and his appointed means of grace, and 
spend the Sabbath in ways of their own chosing, for their 
own pleasure and amusement, visiting and attending sing- 
ings, &c. 

Here she was touched at a tender point, for she had 
taught music on the Sabbath, and that, too, when there were 
appointments at the same time in the same neighborhood 
for preaching. She took it upon herself to justify the prac- 
tice, and said she thought singing was as nice as preaching j 
that music was a part of worship, and she believed^-it was as 
right to sing as it was to preach; it had been impressed up- 
on her mind from a child, that she ought to teach music, 
and she believed it was her duty, and she thought if she 
ever enjoyed religion in her life, it was when she was on the 
floor leading in music ; and she had experienced as high 
feelings from good music, as ever she did under preaching. 

I admitted that good music was very beautiful and very 
animating to the feelings ; that it might and ought to be a 
part of religious worship ; that it was a duty to practice it 
in that way : that it was a good and profiable exercise when 
attended to according to the scripture rule, " Sing with the 
spirit and with the understand." Said I, as it is an impor- 
tant part of worship, if we had not the opportunity of learn- 
ing it on week days, so as to be able to perform it, there 
might be some propriety in teaching it on the Sabbath. 
—8 



t 

86 

But it is like many other things wliicli are good and profita- 
ble in their proper places, but when used in tha place of 
something else, become very bad and injurious things. 
Whatever is positively commanded in the scriptures, we are 
safe and justifiable in practicing; but to put other things in 
the place of these, is a dangerous course and should be 
watched and guarded against. We have good authority for 
preaching on the Sabbath day, but none for teaching music 
on that day. And there is reason to believe that most of 
the performance of those singers is done without under- 
standing, or caring much about the sentiment contained in 
the words connected with the music, and they do not attend 
to it as intelligent worship and service rendered to God, but 
as an exercise for animation and pleasure, which is a dese- 
cration of the Sabbath, Isaiah, LVIII, 13. 

Many experience feelings of excitement, animation and 
pleasure from the drum and fife, as martial music, but it af- 
fords no edification or improvement in morality or religion. 
As to trusting to impressions, good and high feelings to 
teach us our duty and what is right, this is an unsafe course 
to pursue, and unless our feelings and impressions corres- 
pond with Bible precepts, it matters not how strong and an- 
imating they may be, they are wrong, delusive and danger- 
ous. If strong impressions of a thing would prove it to be 
right and true, then the greatest heresies, absurdities and 
abominable idolatries that were ever held to or practiced by, 
or that ever disgraced human beings, might be proven to be 
right, fo» there is good reason to believe that they are the 
subjects of strong impressions and high feelings in their de- 
votions. 

She said she did not think they had such feelings as she 
had. I replied that whether they had or not, they would 
undergo more privation and self denial on account of their 
religion, and make greater sacrifices than professors of the 
christian religion of our time would do for theirs. And, 
said I, the disposition and actions of a great many who have 
a name in the church in the present day give good reasons 
to fear that they are as great strangers to a work of grace 
in their hearts as those deluded heretics and pagans. They 
have had some serious impressions, some elevated or lively 
feelings, but instead of obeying the gospel, believing in 
Christ, trusting and confiding in him alone for salvation, and 
thereby obtaining pardon and renovation, a new and clean 



87 

heart and a right spirit, loving righteousness and hating ini- 
quity, they have depended upon their impressions and feel- 
ings, and when these have subsided they have as good an 
appetite for sinful pleasures as ever they had, and as little a 
relish for holiness and the laws of God, and consequently 
live in habitual neglect of them. 

By this time she was disposed to waive the subjeet, and 
to talk about farms, crops, etc., but I pursued the same sub- 
ject till we came to the next house, where she made an ex- 
cuse to stop, and I went on my way, thinking occasionally 
of what might possibly befall me for using so much freedom 
upon so delicate a subject guarded with so much vigilance 
and patriotic zeal. 

Perhaps while on this tour, on calling at the house of one 
of my old neighbors, near to my next appointment, the old 
lady came out appearing surprised at my being there, and 
said she thought I would be afraid to come, for the report 
was out that I had been taken up. I smiled at hearing 
some things related by her. Said she, "You laugh." Said 
I, "It is as well to laugh as to look sad." She appeared 
alarmed, and said she would be afraid. Said I, "We are 
told not to fear them who kill the body but can do nomore.'^ 
She saidjthe cavalry had been in that country hunting for 
and taking up Union men. Some had kept out of their 
way, and the cavalry said they would be back on Sabbath, 
and she thought people would be afraid to come out. Said 
I, "If they said they would be back at this time you need 
not be afraid ] it will be more likely to be at some other time. 
Few ventured out and none were molested. 

Not far from this time an appointment was made by the 
President of the Southern Confederacy, for a certain day to 
be observed as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer. I 
heard that an appointment was made by a Baptist minister 
for a meeting of the people on that day at the church where 
he was pastor, but did not expect to be there himself. I 
felt a disposition to meet with them, not because I felt in • 
duty bound to obey Davis, as the rightful ruler of the peo- 
ple, but I thought if people would attend to such a call in a 
proper manner, it would be profitable. But, contrary to cal- 
calation, the pastor was there, and after some time took his 
position before the pulpit, and remarked that he felt he had 
no more right to occupy the time that day than any other 
person, and he wished every one who desired it to take a 



part in tlie exercises of the day. and lie wished none to go 
away with feelings mortified because they had not the op- 
portunity of acting the part they felt it their duty to do. 

After some other remarks had been make, and several 
persons at his request had made a prayer, he asked me if I 
wanted to come forward and occupy the time for a while. I 
was taken by surprise, not being aware that he knew me, 
for I had been at his appointments and he had taken no no- 
tice of me. I was also aware that the Baptist churches in 
that country had passed a rule against inviting ministers of 
other denominations into their pulpits, and I felt a little re- 
luctant in going forward in the face of these considerations, 
but was fearful if I stayed back I might have occasion to 
regret it afterward j so I went forward and addressed the 
people about to the following efi"ect : "It is not my wish to 
consume time with many remarks in reference to the occa- 
sion upon which we have met, for as we are all imperfe'ct, 
fallible beings; whatever may be said on the subject by man 
there is a liability to error and mistake. But God has giv- 
en us a tule to go by on such occasions as this is claimed to 
be. He has told us what is and what is not an acceptable 
fast to the Lord, and if we keep such a fast as he has re- 
quired, we have his promise of a blessing. I acknowledge 
it may look like assuming much and I feel a delicacy in oc- 
cupying time by reading what every man has in his own house 
and ought to be acquainted with : yet it is a fact that there 
are things in the Bible which some have never read nor 
even known that they are there, and much has been read 
and forgotten. And as we are prone to forget and lose sight 
of many important things contained in the scriptures, I have 
need to be reminded of them again and again, therefore, for 
our instruction and guide on the present occasion, we will 
attend to reading the LVIIIth chapter of Isaiah. After 
reading this chapter, which I would recommend my readers 
to turn to and read over carefully before preceding any far- 
ther, I remarked, if we would follow these instructions, and 
not be as the two brethren, who came desiring the Lord to 
do for them whatever they would ask, and requested for 
themselves that they might sit the one on his right and the 
other on his left hand in his kingdom, but after the example 
of our Savior in the garden, when he prayed, saying, "If it 
be possible let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not my 
will but thine be done. And after the example of the Nin- 



89 

evites, who repented at the preaching of Jonah, when he 
said : "Yet forty days and Ninevah shall be destroyed." 
And the decree of the king and his nobles was, that every 
one should turn from his evil way and from the violence 
that is in his hands." And in so doing they obtained mer- 
cy and deliverence from the impending destruction. 

Would we thus submit ourselves to the Lord, yielding 
hearty obedience to his requirements, we would have the 
faithful promise of the Almighty pledged for his favor and 
blessing. But if we pursue a different course, Grod will not 
be mocked, but we shall reap what we have sown, and bring 
upon ourselves that of which Jacob was afraid — a curse in- 
stead of a blessing. Glen. XXVII, 12. 

Having closed by prayer and left the place to others, one 
who sometimes occupied the place of minister in the Baptist 
society, stepped forward trembling apparently under a high 
degree of nervous excitement, and said he could not, nor 
never expected to be able to express himself like some peo- 
ple, but he had something in his hand that he thought was 
very suitable to be read on that occasion ; and when he had 
read it what was it ? What was the thing so very suitable 
for a season set apart for confession of sin, humiliation and 
prayer ? It was one of those fierce and acrimonious publi- 
cations, abounding with accusations and charges against 
northern people, of waging an unjust, cruel and wicked war 
against them, and advancing upon them for the purpose of 
bloodshed and murder, and destruction of life and property 
by fire and sword. 

Some were astonished that in the face of what had been 
read from the Bible, any one could venture to introduce any- 
thing corresponding so exactly with the prophet's descrip- 
tion of the manner in which the apostate Jews acted in his 
day : "For strife and debate and to smite with the fist of 
wickedness." Numbers, previous to this had made a mock 
of Bible reading and prayer as a means of avoiding the ca- 
lamity of war, and said their guns were more to be depend- 
ed upon then. 

A short time previous to my departure from home, a sick 
soldier was brought to my house, where we nursed him for 
some time. While there his parents came to see him. His 
father, who was a Methodist minister and a secesh, knowing 
that I was not in favor of the seceding polic} of the south, 
brought the charge against me in my own house, that I was 
*— 8 



90 

not disposed to go according to the apostolic rule : " To be 
subject to the powers that be/' Although Union men were 
now in a great measure gagged, and had to be very modest 
and reserved, yet my feeling of independence and sense of 
personal rights were too strong to allow me tamely and si- 
lently to submit to such insinuations, under such circum- 
stances. I asked how far the apostle himself followed the 
rule according to the construction he was putting upon it, 
and how far did he by his example justify such an interpre- 
tation of it? for if he had been subject to the requisitions 
of all the corrupt and idolatrious practices which the pow- 
ers that existed where he was required to be conformed to, 
he would not have suiFered persecution or martyrdom. 

When the apostle said to the church of Rome, Romans 
XIII, 1, "Let every soul be subject to the higher powers, 
for there is no power but that of God ; the powers that be 
are ordained of God, and whosoever resisteth the powers re- 
sisteth the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall re- 
ceive to themselves damnation," he surely did not enjoin it 
upon them to submit and conform to those laws and require- 
ments of the ruling powers and authorities which came in 
contact with, and were a violation of the laws of God ; nor 
recognized that as being of God which was a violation of his 
laws ; but only such as was in accordance with it ; nor never 
taught them to obey man rather than God. 

The correctness of this position was not denied. I then 
said, that it had been the boast of all the parties, north and 
south, that we had the best government in the world ; that 
it was based upon the scriptures -, that our laws were found- 
ed upon and authorized by Divine precepts; that God had 
acknowledged and sanctioned this claim, by many tokens of 
his approbation, and bright manifestations of his favor, in 
the unparalleled prosperity that had attended us as a nation. 
Said I, "This has been acknowledged on all hands, and the 
conclusion must necessarily follow that our government was 
one of the powers that was ordained of God, to which we 
are required to be subject. Why, then, were you not sub- 
ject to it? and where did you get your authority for doing 
otherwise ?" 

This stopped the mouth of the accuser of our brethren, 
and the subject was dropped. I understood he scolded about 
it afterward, and claimed the right of secession through the 
sovereignty of the state, though he claimed to be under a 



91 

democratic government, acording to whicla the majority 
must rule ; yet I understood a large majority of the state in 
which he lived had voted to remain in the Union. And 
w^ xle a great outcry was making against coercing states, and 
compelling them to stay in the Union contrary to their wish, 
a minority had forced the state out. 

At this time, I think, the federal army had got possession 
of the railroad from Memphis, Tenn., to Decatur, Ala., and 
it was reported that they would soon be at Columbus, Miss., 
and guards were placed along the public roads. Cavalry 
were stationed near Columbus, and a citizen of the country 
could not get to town without a pass ; and when there, if 
they had not, they had to take the oath of allegiance to the 
Southern Confederacy, (to support Davis and his successors 
in office,) before they could get away. This I could not feel 
myself justifiable in doing, for I honestly believed there was 
no justifiable cause for seceding, and that it had been car- 
ried into effect by dishonest, unfair and wicked measures ; 
consequently I kept myself where I would not be compelled 
to do what I believed to be wrong. It was a common saying 
that the required oath was not binding, because it was taken 
not of choice but by compulsion ; and as their homes and 
all their treasures were there, they would take the oath but 
would not feel themselves bound to comply with it farther 
than suited their interests. 

My reply to this mode of reasoning was, that if they did 
not consider their oath binding, those who administered it 
would, and if they were found acting contrary to it, they 
would be dealt with as if it was ; and, for my part, I would 
ra''her suffer for not taking, than for breaking an unright- 
eous oath. 

The Union people were hopeful that the rebellion would 
soon cease, and it was a common belief that the south was 
whipped, and that they had better give it up than to go on 
with it only to make matters worse. But some would not 
allow such a notion to be openly expressed, saying it had a 
tendency to discourage and weaken the cause. 

Most of the soldiers who came to my house, who expressed 
their feelings on the subject, were anxious for the war to 
cease, upon almost any terms, and appeared to have very lit- 
tle hope of success in their cause, though there were some 
exceptions. Such was the dissatisfaction in the army it was 
thought they could not be kept together much longer, and 



92 

many were deserting. They had to live on small rations, 
and there was fearful mortality in the camp. The prospect 
for provisions was uncommonly bad ; so far as I was acquain- 
ted the wheat and oat crops were generally a failure, and 
there was the poorest prospect for corn there had been to 
the best of my recollection for forty years. It was thought 
by some that they would be compelled by famine to give up 
the war. And from the knowledge I had of the state of 
the supplies, I thought if the war continued, many women 
and children would have to suffer. Early corn had made all 
it could, and the drought, which had been very severe, still 
continued. Some were out of old grain, and many scarce or 
without salt and some were concealing it; and it was said 
that in some places people were making salt from the drain- 
ings of their smoke house floors. 



CHAPTER V. 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF ESCAPE FROM THE SOUTH. 

It was a short time previous to my leaving "home, I re- 
turned to its owner a mule, which had been worked on my 
farm. On my way, as was required of me, from some source, 
I do not remember what, I gave notice to some of the citi- 
zens of the country through which I passed, that they were 
required to go to Columbus and take the oath of allegiance. 
While stopping with a man on this business he told me of 
the death of an acquaintance who was to be hurried that 
day. The son of the deceased, having been influenced by 
his father to go into the army, had been brought home sick, 
had died, and been buried a day or two before. 

The man with whom I was conversing, speaking of the de- 
ceased to be buried that day, said : "He and his wife came to 
my house just one year ago to-day, and were in high spirits 
in view of the seceding of the South, and said that in twelve 
months our country would be in the most happy and pros- 
perous condition that it ever had been." 

After returning the mule to its owner, and traveling sev- 
eral miles across a section of country where was scarcely a 
man to be seen, nearly all being women and children, and of 
the former many were widows, I arrived at the house of a 
doctor who had known me from his childhood, and from him 
I obtained a certificate to the following effect : That my 
constitution and state of health were not sufficient to under- 
go the exposure and perform the duties of a soldier. 

Another doctor, who had been acquainted with me from 
my boyhood, certified the same. I went before a magistrate 
and was sworn to the correctness of the above. 

On the following day, which was Saturday, there was an 
appointment for a meeting to master and enroll the names of 



94 

all the men residing in the district to which I belonged, be- 
tween the ages of thirty-five and fifty. From eighteen to 
thirty-five had been conscripted, and their time had about 
expired, after which, conscripts who had neither volunteered 
nor reportptd themselves were to be looked after, and some 
had been keeping themselves concealed for some time in the 
woods, and on that night (Friday preceding the muster) ac- 
cording to previous appointment, a company of twelve were 
going to start for the Federal government. A part of them 
were to start from- my brother's house. Among the twelve 
I had a son and six nephews. After or before my return 
home that evening, two cavalrymen come to my house and 
wished to know if there was any outhouse that they could 
lodge in that night. I told them that they could lodge in 
the house with us if they would. They appeared backward 
about doing it, and kept their horses tied up during the 
nisht. After dark I told them I had to be absent for awhile 

o 

on business. 

I then went to my brothers to see the last of those who 
were about leaving. My son was not there, but I witnessed 
the parting scene with those that were, some of whom we 
can meet no more in time. I then returned home, not 
knowing but that those soldiers would take me into close 
quarters in the morning, but when they arose in the morning 
some of the family heard one of them say to the other, "No 
Yankees have passed the road last night." The truth was, 
they had been sent to guard the road, which was near a 
quarter of a mile from the house. 

That morning I went to the captain's house, saw his com- 
mission and what he was authorized to do, and gave him my 
certificate. He said it was all sufficient, so far as he was 
concerned, and ought to satisfy any person, but if I should 
be drafted, he supposed it would not be of any benefit to me, 
as there would be a military surgeon appointed who had the 
examination of the drafted, who would have to abide by his 
decision. 

After this I had other business to attend to, which de- 
tained me till afternoon. On returning home my family in- 
formed me that I and all others in the neighborhood who 
had not taken the oath of allegiance, were required to go to 
Columbus and take the oath on the next Monday, and if we 
did not, we would be taken by an armed force. The person 
by whom this notice was sent, having asked what they would 



95 

do with a person, if after they had jtaken him, he would not 
take the oath, he was told that they would confiscate his 
property, and send him to Lincolndom. I was now brought 
into a straight to know what to do, and had but a short 
time to decide the case in. To leave my family was intoler- 
able to think of; and to do that which I believed to be a 
great sin against God and the interests of my country, was 
too much to submit to. I thought it possible my family 
were a little mistaken in regard to. the true state of the case, 
and I would go and see a neighbor who had been to town 
and knew what the fact of the case was. But I was so well 
satisfied that they were right that I fed my horse and left it 
to eat and rest till I would return. I told my family to get 
such things ready for my journey as they could, that were 
necessary, for I expected to leave that night. So I went on 
foot to the neighbor's house, and learned that the informa- 
tion was indeed correct, and inquired particularly with re- 
gard to the form and substance of the required oath, for he 
had taken it, and I had learned that some who had taken it 
had said it was as long as the moral law. I learned that 
it not only bound a person to support the constitution and 
laws of the Southern Confederacy, but to be subject to and 
support J. Davis and his successors in oJOGice This was more 
than I could be reconciled to, but I was rather censured and 
did not seem to receive much sympathy. 

From there I went to my brother's where I had been the 
night before. I wished to have some conversation with him 
before I would leave. When I arrived another person was 
there who remained for some time, and I waited for him to 
leave before I would introduce the trying subject ; and when 
left to ourselves found we had much the same views of what 
was the best and safest course to pursue. And after a short 
interview with, and taking leave of a bereft family, I re- 
turned to my own to join with them in making preparations 
for my departure as best I could. It was a trying season. 
JMy name was on the list of those liable to draft, which was 
expected the next week. On Monday I was required to 
take an oath, which if I failed to do I had no doubt but I 
would be one of the drafted number, and then would be in a 
safe box, for though I had a good excuse for exemption, 
yet, as I knew of others being pressed into the service, who 
were legally exempt from and actually unfit for military ser- 
vice, I therefore had nothing to hope for in that line. 



96 

But how could I bear to be separated from my family, and 
leave them to take the chances that might follow ? I said 
if I knew they would send us in safety to the Union lines, 
if they took everything from us, I was heartily willing to 
stay and see them out with it. But it was thought if they 
started with me I never would get there, and while I was 
out of their hands I had better keep out. But as the trial 
was a hard one to submit to, some of the family asked why 
I could not do like some others and stay at home. Feelings 
of abhorence seemed to arise at the thought, and I replied 
something after this manner : "The Confederacy is a wicked 
and unjustifiable undertaking, and they are making use of 
wicked and unjustifiable measures to accomplish their ob- 
ject, I am not going to take an oath to assist them." 

Night came on before our preparations were through with, 
and notwithstanding the exciting circumstances of the oc- 
casion, I felt disposed to occupy a part of our last hours to- 
gethor to reading the scriptures and prayer to the God of 
our fathers, and thought it very remarkable that I was ena- 
bled to go through with the whole exercise with so much 
composure and submission, and so heartily commit us with 
all the unknown events of the future, to the disposal of an 
all wise and good Sovereign. 

A list of the names and ages of the family was furnished 
to take with me — but I leave the particular details of the 
parting scene to be read in verses composed upon that sub- 
ject. * 

Between the hours of eight and nine o'clock that night, 
the 12th of July, 1862, we parted with the deliberate calcu- 
latinn that one whole family, which had been together a few 
nights before, would never all meet together in time. The 
next week I would have left home, if permitted, to attend 
my appointments in Alabama, and had been intending to go 
to a factory on Bear creek in some of my tours, as I had to 
go the greater part of the distance there to fill my appoint- 
ments I said to my family it might be before I would get 
clear away, I might find that they were not going to execute 
their threats, and that I would be back after filling my ap- 
pointments as before, and if people inquired for me they 
could tell them they did not look for me back till after the 
time of those appointments. 

Thus I departed from my country and kindred, not know- 
ing whither I went. I had been sick and was then able to 



97 

do a half day's work if I would rest the remainder of the 
day. I could not stand it to do much riding in the sun, but 
the circumstances under which I was placed gave me a fa- 
vorable opportunity to effect my escape before I was suspec- 
ted of having such designs. 

Two of my nephews, who had sometime before started out 
on foot to attend some appointments, were so strongly sus- 
pected of having started to the Yankees, that some men 
would hardly be persuaded not to follow and bring them 
back ) but now they were gone indeed, and their appoint- 
ments filled as best they might. I also arose, took the horse 
to pass those suspicious regions by night, and escape from 
what might be called *Sodom in Egypt, and to flee to Abra- 
ham's bosom, there to remain till I should receive word and 
hear that they who sought to destroy the Union are dead. 

Thus I set out, travelin<^ sometimes along the road and 
sometimes through woods and along by-paths, as caution and 
prudence might dictate to be best. As it was about full 
moon, I could see to travel through the woods and along 
private ways, so as to shun danger. In this way I traveled 
with a heavy heart during the night, and until an hour or 
two by sun on Sabbath morning ; and though I felt deeply 
concerned for my Union neighbors and brethren whom I 
had left, yet I felt a degree of assurance that the church 
would in some way be shielded and protected by Providence 
— so confident of it was I at times, that I almost resolved to 
risk my fortune with them. But I knew that though David 
had the promise of a kingdom, he had to fly from Saul and 
Absolem to save his life, and our Savior had to be taken in- 
to Egypt to prevent Herod from destroying him, so I thought 
it probably was necessary for me to go away to secure life 
and to accomplish some wise and good design of Providence, 
for I had no doubt but the Lord would by this war accom- 
plish some great and lasting good for the best interests of 
His cause and kingdom in the world, notwithstanding the 
great wickedness of men in getting up and carrying on the 
war with all its dreadful calamities. I thought, as I said 
when leaving my family, that it might be that we who were 
leaving our families, might be as Joseph, sent to prepare for 
the preservation of others. 

When I arrived on Sabbath morning where I expected to 



*Southern Confederacy. 
—9 



spend the clay, the man of the house was still in bed, hav- 
ing got home late in the night after visiting and taking pro- 
visions to his friends and relatives, who had been in a half 
starved condition in the south* rn army, then stationed, I 
think, at Tupulo, between Corinth and Pontotock. lie was 
a Union man, but had a son or two in the rebel army, I 
asked to have a bed as soon as would be convenient, as I 
was weary and feeble, and needing sleep and rest. 

There was preaching in the neighborhood that day, and 
my host invited me to go to it, and perhaps thought it 
strange that I did not. I told him I was in feeble health, 
tired and could not well stand the heat of the sun, and could 
not, in justice to myself, and without risk of damage, go 
with him. 

When I retired it was with difficulty that I could get any 
relief from distress ; for from fatigue, loss of sleep and 
trouble of mind, when I would get into a doze, I would be 
roused up in a smothering and almost dying condition' and, 
whether asleep or awake, my family was on my mind, and 
the strong desires of my heart were almost constantly going 
forth in their behalf to the hill whence salvation cometli. 
After some time my sleep became more composed and re- 
freshing, so that by evening I was considerably revived, and 
could have some satisfaction in conversation. Their preach- 
er came with them from church, and though a great secesh, 
we had an evening of pleasant conversation, I retired early 
to bed, telling them not to think strange if I was not there 
in the morning. They supposed I would not leave till after 
breakfast. I said as the weather was very hot I could not 
stand the sun very well, I expected to travel by moonshine 
while it was cool. Being asked if I would be at my ap- 
pointment the last of the week. I said if nothing took 
place to prevent it, I would be there. 

After midnight, I set out again, and, after traveling about 
ten miles, took my breadfast with one of my old neighbors, 
and after passing what had been my home in Alabama, I 
stopped and dined with another neighbor, where I tried to 
sleep, but failed. I inquired for some one who would be 
going to the factory, intending if I could, to get in compa- 
ny with some of my acquaintances in the country who were 
going there, I would go with them, as I had some southern 
money that whold soon be worthless to me. I thought I 
would give it for thread and get some of the people there to 



99 

take it to my house, when passing to Columbus. This would 
be serviceable to them, and give a chance to hear from me ; 
but I could hear of no such chance, and as the cavalry were 
running around, I did not wish to go without some one who 
had been acquainted with me. 

As the day was getting cloudy, I went a few miles farther 
to a shop, to get shoes put on my horse. While there wait- 
ing for this to be. done, I had the information from an ac- 
quaintance there present, that the cavalry were frequently 
passing between there and the factory, and if they came on 
me and I had no pass, I would stand a chance of being set 
on foot. They had, a short time before, taken the last bush- 
el of corn a widow had, which she had lately bought. He 
invited me to spend the night with him, but I thought best 
not to do so, but went a little distance back, took across to- 
ward another road, which I concluded to travel. On the 
way I called on a man for instruction concerning the roads, 
whom I knew to be a Union man, and who had been hunted 
by the cavalry. While there, another man living near one 
of my places of preaching, called and urged me strongly to 
go and spend the night with him, and when I would not 
agree to it, he asked me if I would be at my appointment 
on Sabbath. I said, if nothing prevented I would. 

While thus detained on my way across, a company of cav- 
alry passed and I fell into the road behind them, and traveled 
all night, except a little while that I sat beside a tree near 
the road, and perhaps slept a little while my horse rested. 

Having passed Pikeville and crossed several water cour- 
ses, at daybreak I came in sight of a house by the roadside, 
where I thought T saw a cavalry horse standing. I left the 
road, and tying my horse in a secure place, returned cau- 
tiously to learn the truth of the matter, but finding nothing 
I remounted and rode up to the house, where I saw plenty 
of tracks. A youth who had just crept out of bed came to 
the road. I asked if there were any Yankees about there ? 
He said, No, but the southern cavalry had just gone up the 
road. I asked the distance to the factory and asked many 
Cjuestions concerning the citizens between that road and the 
road leading to the factory. After following the road a short 
distance, I took a private way in the opposite direction, which 
led to a house where I tried to get my horse fed, but could 
not. I was directed to Squire Stidem's, who was brother 
to the one I had heard speak the summer before on Sugar 



100 

creek, and thought him the only honest man out of six that 
spoke that day, so I thought I was getting to the right 
phice. There I got breakfast and my horse fed and took 
a bed in a house to myself, expecting there to sleep and rest 
till morning. But before I had enjoyed my slumbers long 
toe people began to sing in a house near by, and their music 
being much like what 1 was used to at home, roused me 
from sleep and so excited my feelings that I no longer felt 
like sleep ; so I left the dormitory and shared in the music. 

The Squire had an uneasy and disquieted appearance, as 
if in great anxiety and suspense of mind, which was more 
or less characteristic of all present. He said the way things 
were there he had no heart to work, and that was the way he 
was putting in his time. 

The pieces sung, being the same that I had been used to 
at home, and the voices resembling some in my own family, 
they strongly reminded me of those I had left, which 
wrought deeply on my feelings. It was an exciting occasion 
for several reasons. The Squire and his wife, I think were 
of different religious persuasions — Baptist and Methodist. 
The war was the all absorbing subject, and I think the 
question was up whether the war was or was not providen- 
tial; whether the Almighty did or did not design to accom- 
plish something by it. As I was tolerably familiar with the 
scriptures, they detained me for a time finding prophesies 
and texts of scripture and giving my views of some of them, 
and in giving a list of portions of scripture for their consi- 
deration. Being charged with running away, I humored it 
as a joke and let it pass. 

Some time previous some dozen or more men had been ta- 
ken from that region by cavalry, and had been confined in 
the Columbus prison in Mississippi. It is said that all ex- 
cept one had been released and on their return had passed 
the day before. It had been reported that the one detained 
was to be shot. His wife started to Columbus to see him, 
but said that some distance from town the road was guarded 
by soldiers, who would not let her pass, and she had returned 
without Seeing him. She and her child came to the Squire's 
that day, and were exciting objects of pity and commisera- 
tion. I was informed that the cause of those men being ta- 
ken up, was that in another county a company of men had 
organized, calling themselves the Regulators, who were go- 
ing around among the citizens , and if they did not talk and 



101 

do according to their liking they dealt with and regulated 
them and their property according to their own notion. In 
view of this state of things, the men in the locality where 
those were arrested, had organized into a liome ^yrotection 
hody^ for the purpose of preventing any person or his proper- 
ty from being molested contrary to law. The Regulators 
hearing of this, went and reported that they were preparing 
to resist the Confederacy; and, upon this, the cavalry were 
sent to arrest them. 

Several people were coming in, some of whom knew me 
and had heard me preach while residing in that state. I 
began to feel that it was too public a place for me. I also 
learned that scouts from the confederate army south of Cor- 
inth sometimes passed that way ; so I paid the Squire a dol- 
lar in southern currency and again took through the woods, 
along paths converging to the direction of the highway, and 
when I came to it, it was all cut up with fresh tracks — 
I supposed of cavalry horses, going in the direction I was 
traveling. As I thought some of them might be coming 
back my policy was to keep a sharp lookout far ahead, so as 
to see them first; and as the road was on a dividing ridge, 
with deep hollows on each side, hoped to be able to dash 
suddenly down and conceal myself among the hills before 
they would see or get near to me. 

It was not long before I saw at a distance something re- 
sembling that of which I was afraid of, and- — for I was feel- 
ing quite wild — I was soon out of sight of the road, behind 
a hillside abounding with grass, weeds, briars and vines, and 
I pursued my course along a deep hollow, corresponding 
with the course of the road, till I could venture to ascend to 
the road again ) soon after which a dark and stormy looking 
cloud came up behind me, and I thought it might prevent 
any that were behind from coming on, and might serve as a 
wall between us. The cloud being driven by a strong wind, 
I soon had to get into a house or take the storm. I had the 
fortune to be received into a house where the woman was 
alone. From her I learned the distance and rout to Russel- 
ville, and that a company of cavalry had gone along that 
road a while before. I learned that she was acquainted at 
Kusselville, and asked her many questions with regard to 
churches, religious denominations, &c. She supposed I was a 
minister and wished to know my faith, and though of a differ- 
ent belief, she professed much respect for people of my per- 
*— 9 



102 

suasion, for she had been raised or educated by them. The 
time was passed in interesting conversation till the storm 
was over. Then afterward, while at a house where I was 
waiting for the horse to lay in a supply for a good night's 
travel, a man came along who said that the cavalry were go- 
ing to camp within a mile of there. I asked if there was 
any way to go to Russelville without going among them. I 
was told there was none but where a person would be liable 
to met with the pickets. I said if there was, I would pre- 
fer going around, as I had been told that they did not al- 
ways treat people eivilly. They said as I was a traveler they 
would not be apt to mistreat me, and thought my chances 
would be better to go right through than for the pickets to 
find me trying to get round ; so I set off, determined to make 
the venture. 

As I went I thought it might be that my course was not 
a justifiable one, and that I was going to be taken back j 
and if so, I would submit to my lot, be it what it might. So 
I committed my case into the hands of the Wise Disposer 
of all events, and pushed forward toward the dread place, 
where I could hear frequent discharges of fire arms. 

Before getting to the place I had devised a way to deceive 
them, by telling them nothing but the truth, if they re- 
quired me to give an account of myself, which I think would 
have had the desired effect, and I would have felt myself 
justifiable in being a deceiver. 

When I came in sight they all appeared to be busily en- 
gaged, some making fires and some attending to their hor- 
ses, and some to their arms , and a company was standing 
across the road shooting off their pistols — I supposed be- 
cause they had been exposed to the storm. When I came to 
them some had their pistols up as if about to shoot. I ad- 
dressed them, calling them gentlemen, and asked them if 
they were going to shoot. My young beast, showing signs 
of being afraid, passed hastily by them. I permitted it to 
go without much restraint and passed them without being 
halted or asked a single question. 

How strangely and agreeably disappointed I felt ! I felt 
as if it was the Lord's doing, and that it was a marvelous 
deliverence, and there was a great reviving and uprising of 
spirits within me, and I went on my way feeling quite re- 
lieved and light. 

This was after sunset and near the bridge on Big Bear 



103 

creek, over whicli I soon passed, and meeting a small squad 
of soldiers, they asked if I had seen the cavalry. Said I 
"they are camping a short distance back." All was right, and 
onward we all went. I felt a strong determination to make 
that the last night 1 would be found inside the rebel lines. 
How strange that I had got by them so easily ! Owing to 
my clothing they perhaps took me for a citizen of that coun- 
try, and if so were well deceived, for I was nearly a hundred 
miles from home. My coat and saddlebags being under my 
cloak, perhaps they were not seen. 

In my travel that night I passed up and down some tre- 
mendous hills, and through deep and dark ravines, while the 
stars shone, passed towering banks and roots of trees far 
above. The way was so dark and doubtful below it made 
the descent very slow ; after which was what, by moonshine 
appeared to be an extensive and beautiful plain, where, tra- 
veling till weary and drowsy, I left the road a little way, and 
took my seat at the root of a spreading topped tree — 

Awhile to enjoy a transient repose, 

In a strange world of wilderness and woes. 

But fearing that some straggler might chance to leave me 
afoot, I loosed thence and went forward again, till it ap- 
peared as if I had gone far enough to be at Russelville, and 
having passed a house some distance, and fearing lest by 
some means I had lost the right way, I turned and went back 
to the house to inquire, but found a house without inhabi- 
tants and went on again, resolved to take the first private 
way I could find, supposing I would not have to go far 
without finding some residence. After a while I found and 
followed the desired way, which soon began to descend, and 
down, onward down, it did still descend, till I wondered 
much where the thing would end — 

When lo, a great valley, all in field. 
And corn was the fruit I saw it did yield. 

There was a gate through which I had to pass to keep in 
the road, which, a half mile farther through a corn field, 
stopped at a house. There I had my horse fed, and, as the 
chickens were crowing, laid me down in the porch and slept 
till the dawn of day, when I was conducted through fields 
across to the road leading to Russellville, where I intended 



104 

to stop and write a letter to my people, but on arriving tliere 
a cloud was on the countenances of the people, visibly indi- 
cative of something unpleasant. The doors were shut next 
the streets, along which scarcely any were passing. All ap- 
peared quiet and still, and all the men I recollect of seeing, 
except one at the closed door of a drug store, were in back 
porches from the street, and when I would call at a house a 
woman would first appear, and a man cautiously afterwards, 
and after passing I could see numbers of men in back 
porches. 

I then learned that the mail had been stopped the day be- 
fore, so my intended home communication was cut off. I 
asked at a drug storo for eyewater, but was told they had 
none, and was directed to a doctor's shop some distance be- 
yond town. I thought they looked at me very suspiciously, 
and I had gone but a little distance when I met two little 
boys in the street. Said one : Are you not afraid the Yan- 
kees will catch you ? Said I, are there any Yankees about 
here ? He said there were two thousand of them about a 
half a mile from there. I then, in part, understood the 
signs of the times ; and this was no bad news to me. I was 
inclined to go to their camp, but as it was a little out of the 
way to Tuscumbia, I concluded not to go. 

The doctor to whom I had been directed being absent, I 
went forward, and passed a place that had been occupied by 
soldiers, where dogs were devouring the remains of horses 
that lay in and about the road. After passing a short dis- 
tance from there, I came opposite a house near the road, and 
saw a man passing through the yard whose countenance I 
thought I could read. 

By this time the sun was quite warm, and I was tired and 
thirsty, and asked if I could get some water and rest with 
them awhile, and being made welcome to do so, was soon 
satisfied that I was right in my opinion of the man. 

From him I learned that there had been a little battle, in 
which some horses were killed, where I saw those remains, 
and perhaps two or three Union soldiers had been wounded 
there, and for a time had been in the hands of the Russell- 
ville doctors. He also informed me that a company of Yan- 
kee soldiers had been at Russellville the day before, and had 
taken, I think, some of the citizens and all of the doctors, 
but one, to Tuscumbia without telling the reason for so do- 
ing. As cotton had been burned at some places through the 



105 

country, and there was also a report that a wounded Union 
officer had been mistreated by the physicians, it was conjec- 
tured that on account of one or both of these charges those 
men had been arrested, and that would account for the Btate 
of things I had seen in town, though this man thought the 
boys were mistaken, and that it was a confederate regiment 
that had stationed themselves in the fork of the road, for he 
knew that they had designed to occupy that position to cut 
off the Yankees when they went to Rusgellville. He had 
seen one of their scouts crossing through the glade a short 
time before. 

I was glad I had not gone to them, but after a little re- 
flection upon what I had seen, said I thought the boys were 
right. He asked if I had noticed the tracks of the horses ; 
he said if he had seen them he could easily tell which it was. 
When I had described them he said it was the Northern sol- 
diers, and they had disappointed the others. 

After resting and learning what I could with regard to 
the roads, the distance to the Union pickets, to Tuscumbia, 
Florence, &c., I set out again, and as I was getting to the 
picket I met those men who had boen taken from Russell- 
ville, and now on their return from Tuscumbia. I was halted 
by the guards and asked where I wan going. At first they 
refused to let me pass, saying that they had received orders 
to let no mere people pass. I conjectured from that that 
they felt themselves in a dangerous situation, and I of course 
felt the more anxious to get beyond those uncertain and dan- 
gerous localities. 

After some conversation I was sent forward to an officer 
posted farther on my way, and from him to another higher 
officer, who asked me if I was willing to take the oath of al- 
legiance to the government. I told him that I had no ob- 
jections to taking it, as it had formerly been administered. 
He asked if I had a family; their condition, circumstances 
under which I had left them, reasons for leaving, &c. This 
brought the scenes and circumstances of those tender rela- 
tionships so vividly to view that my manliness failed, and 
my usual strength of nerve and power of self command gave 
way, so that I had to ask him to bear with me till I could 
properly state the facts of the case. He showed some dis- 
position for indulgence and sympathy in the case, and 
spoke of himself having the trial of leaving his friends 

I was afterward conducted by a guard past several other 



106 

companies, posted at different places along the road, and 
had many questions to answer and to hear many a profane 
expression. My conductor was so exceedingly profane that 
I gave him a serious reproof and admonition. But it 
seemed to me afterwards that he used profane language with- 
out being conscious of doing so. I soon began to feel badly 
disappointed and deeply depressed in spirit on account of 
the great wickedness so visible among the soldiers. There 
was a striking similarity between my inward feelings and the 
strong exclamation of Jonah, chap. II, 3, 5 : All thy bil- 
lows and thy waves passed over me ; the waters compassed 
me about, even to the soul. 

As I v/as getting to an officer's tent in camp, many came 
around full of curiosity, but not all in conformity to the 
rules of civility. The officer occasionally ordered them 
away. He asked me where I was from. Being told the 
state and county of which I was a resident, he asked if I 
was acquainted in Columbus ; if I knew several merchants 
of that place whom he named, and if I was acquainted with 
several business houses and important places in and about 
Columbus, which he mentiomed. When all these questions 
were answered apparently to his satisfaction, he asked a num- 
ber of questions with regard to the state of things in that 
country. 

After I had answered his questions honestly to the best of 
my ability, I said to him that one of the greatest objections 
I had to the country I had left, I was sorry to say it, I had 
found to prevail among them there. He asked what that 
was. I said it was profane swearing. He made rather light 
of it and said that soldiers must swear some. Said he : "The 
soldiers swore in Washington's time.'' I admitted they did, 
but not with his approbation, but it was a source of mortifi- 
cation to him, and he used his influence and authority to put 
it down. I said it was no light matter, for just so sure as it 
was true that those who took the name of God in vain should 
not be held guiltless, so sure it was that unless they change 
their course they would suffer for it, and disappointment and 
calamity awaited them. I said I had been sadly disappoin- 
ted and discouraged by what I had witnessed. I felt it to 
the soul. 

After some questions and examinations with regard to 
what I had with me, he wrote something to be given to Gen. 
Thomas. He and Adjutant Flint were in the office. The 



107 

paper ])eiiig presented to them and its contents read, they 
did not add many more questions. But I was so deeply af- 
fected by what I had witnessed that I had to disclose some 
of my views and feelings to those in high places. Gen. 
Thomas appeared grave and consistent, but Flint appeared 
rather airy and flighty in his manners and conversation, and 
had a high notion of what their superior numbers and mili- 
tary skill could eiFect, and was confident of success and of a 
speedy termination of the war. I had occasion to tell him 
that according to the scriptures, the race was not to the 
swift nor the battle to the strong, and that no king is saved 
by the multitude of his host, and that a curse is pronounced 
upon those who trust to an arm of flesh. 

I was required to give my age, residence and occupation, 
and to take the oath of allegiance, or the parole of honor. I 
chose the latter, from the consideration that I hadnotmeans 
to travel far, and might have to spend some time among peo- 
ple who were prejudiced against the Administration, and by 
having it to say that I had not taken the oath, I could have 
more influence with them for good. I labored perhaps for 
an hour for some additional conditions to be expressed in 
the parole before I would sign it, but could not prevail. 
Flint had the business to attend to, and in his conversation 
told me that he had been brought up strictly by religious 
parents. As I was speaking of the importance of being pre- 
pared for the worst, under circumstances of so much danger 
and uncertainty of life, he remarked that he had lived an 
honost life, paid his just debts, injured no one, and now if 
he should fall while he was engaged in so good a cause, he 
thought that when the angel of mercy came to look over his 
case, his tear would blot out his few short comings. I said 
he was jesting and could not be sincere in his pretensions, 
for if he was acquainted with the doctrines of the Bible he 
must know better. He said he had been raised a good 
Presbyterian, and had been brought up to read the Bible. 
As he had used language in my presence not strictly moral, 
I asked if it was not a pity, if they had raised him a good 
Presbyterian, that he had not remained so. He claimed to 
be sincere in what he had said. I said if he had been edu- 
cated according to the Presbyterian rules, such notions were 
utterly unworthy of his raising. 

They gave me a pass with orders for free transportation 
over the river. When leaving, Flint gave me three dollars 



108 

to assist me on my way. As I thanked him for his kindness 
he said he would take it out in prayers, and asked to be re- 
membered in my daily devotions. 

While detained at the General's office there was a great 
fall of rain, which helped to revive my hopes for a support 
being made at home for my forsaken family. That night I 
lodged at Murdock's, in South Florence. As a Union offi- 
cer's wife from Illinois, was boarding there, the landlady 
kindly cautioned me, (as she understood I was from the 
south), against anything that might mortify the feelings of 
her boarder, who, she said, was a great Union woman. 

That night and next morning being rainy, I had a time of 
refreshing slumber and rest. The lady from Illinois was 
talking of returning home, and it was thought the rain 
would raise the river so that boats could pass. My bill in 
the morning was two dollars. 

Having crossed the river and passed through Florence. I 
pursued my course with considerable depression of spirits, 
under the impression that the war would not close as soon 
as I expected, but that the northern people had to meet with 
disasters and calamities as well as the south, for correction, 
humiliation and purification, before the war would end. 

While my horse was feeding at noon I was employed, ac- 
cording to a long established rule, of reading a portion of 
scripture every day, in reading the XXIVth of Isaiah, 
which, in a regular course of reading occupied my time that 
day, and I was strongly impressed with the idea that it 
might have reference to what was then in operation, and 
that people who we^re trying to make their escape from evil 
in one place might be overtaken by it in another ; so that 
he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the 
pit. He that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be 
taken in the snare. 

That evening I passed a cotton factory, I think on a 
stream called Shoal creek. Near the factory, by some houses 
on the way down the creek, the hurried movements of the 
people, tone of voice and expression of countenance, bespoke 
alarm, anxiety and distress. I soon learned that a child sev- 
eral years old was missing, supposed to be drowned by at- 
tempting to cross the creek on a foot way of plank while the 
water was rising, and perhaps moving some of the planks 
from their position. As I was crossing, many were search- 
ing the creek, which flowed rapidly. This had no tendency 



109 

to diminisli my depression of spirits, but someliow there 
was an increasing impression that evil awaited me in the 
course I was going, and things were more and more forbid- 
ding. The roads rocky and hilly, my horse, too youno- to 
stand traveling well, no chance to sell it, short of money, 
crops just laid by and no call for hands to work, my prospects 
were anything but flattering. In Ohio I had relations and 
thought of going there, but lacked the means, and unless I 
was able to get into business a while was not able to go. 

When I had got about to the Tennessee line, if I recol- 
lect rightly, I found an unsuspicious youth, from whom I 
learned a number of things with regard to the people and 
country there that I considered important for me to know. I 
inquired for some one who he suposed could give general in- 
formation with regard to the state of things in that country, 
and the chance for employment. He directed me to a Mr. 
Canedy, where I remained over night, and got information 
concerning persons and places where there was a probability 
of finding employment. There I had the opportunity of 
examining an atlas, and saw, as I thought that Illinois was 
the state to which I should go, and resolved to go back to 
the river and take a boat. 

The first thing was to get into business to get means to 
pay my way. So next morning I set out in quest of work ; 
first to a mechanic's then to a brick yard. They had got a 
supply of hands. Then to a factory, but it was stopped for 
want of wool. I thought of going then to Tuscumbia, but 
learned that the creek was so high people did not like to 
cross. My informant said he was going the next day to 
Florence : by that time the creek would be down, and "if I 
would be at his house early we would go together. I in- 
quired for a good place to stop at, and if he knew of any 
clocks out of repair. He directed me to a Mr. Street, and 
thought he also had a clock out of repair. I found the old 
man ready to take me in, saying, ''We are directed not to 
be unmindful to entertain strangers," but he had got his 
clock put in order. 
. As I could get no work to do and the day was not half 
gone, and I had seen a chance at the factory, I asked if they 
would like to have preaching that night. He thought it 
would be acceptable, and said we would see the man who had 
charge of the house ) so the appointment was made and filled 
accordingly. 
—10 



110 

The old man is what is called a Two Seed Baptist. I had 
not been long in his house when he began to present his pe- 
culiar doctrine. I received it kindly, though not pretending 
to have adopted it as my belief, but admitted that there 
were portions of scripture that appeared to favor his views, 
and joined in with him quoting and pointing out texts that 
might be construed in that way. Thus that subject was dis- 
posed of. Afterward we had much interesting conversation 
upon experimental religion, and he treated me more like an 
old acquaintance and particular friend than a stranger. He 
showed me his meadow and beautiful springs of water. He 
treated me as did Heziikiah the Messengers sent to him from 
the king of Babylon, after Hezakiah's recovery from sick- 
ness. He told me of his negroes sold, amount of money, 
&c., yet everything about him was of the plainest and com- 
monest kind, and he appeared to be contented. Some were 
uneasy, lest they should loose their negroes, but he appeared 
to think if they would take his out of his way he would not 
grieve about it, for he had more satisfaction while making 
the money to buy them, than he had with them when he 
owned them. 

Next morning when I left he would have no recompense, 
but repeated the apostle's words with regard to entertaining 
strangers, and requested me if ever in the country again to 
call on him. 

Before reaching Florence I was informed that Morgan 
was committing depredations in the country through which I 
intended to pass, and where one or two days' travel would 
have taken me. I now thought I saw that things were 
working for the best for me. 1 learned when passing Shoal 
creek that the lost was not yet found. 

Having retraced my steps to Tuscumbia, as I was ap- 
proaching the General's office, one of the guards met me 
and said: "Your people are come. '^ I had informed them 
of the company that had left my neighborhood before T did, 
and had given some of their names, and requested that if 
they came there they would let them know that I had passed 
north. They had arrived there the evening before, one week 
from the night they started from Dixey, and that night one 
week before had witnessed my departure from home. I was 
not long in finding them, and was not a little rejoiced to find 
that they had all got safely to that point, though poor, piti- 
ful, bleached, weather-beaten looking objects; lean, pale 



Ill 

and dirty, tired and sleepy, having made their way more 
than one hundred miles through field and woods, among 
hills and hollows, mountains and valleys, across creeks and 
swamps, through brambles and briars, exposed to rain, dew 
heat and thirst ; sometimes short of provisions, exhausted 
and hungry, and sometimes pursued by men and dogs. But 
out of them all they had been delivered, and were waiting 
for conveyance to Columbus, Kentucky. So we rested to- 
gether till Monday, supplied from the fulness of Uncle 
Sam's charity, and could with deep interest relate the memo- 
rable scenes and incidents of the past week, feeling the in- 
terposing hand of a special Providence had been very visi- 
ble in effecting our escape and deliverance from the many 
dangers through which we had passed. 

On Sabbath one of my nephews preached to a part of the 
soldiers, where, notwithstanding the serious attention of 
some, there were strong indications of infidelity in the army ; 
and some of the officers professed to have more confidence 
in powder and ball, and to trust more to them for success 
than to the Lord. By conversing with the soldiers I found 
some of them as totally ignorant of the Bible doctrine of 
salvation as the most ignora'nt backwoods southerner that I 
had ever conversed with. Their morality and good works, 
which evidently were very imperfec'", and the cause in 
which they were engaged, was the foundation of their hope 
of eternal life ; and some were Universalists. 

Some, when kindly admonished against some evils in camp, 
replied that their preachers participated with them in such 
things. All of which seemed to say that the north as well 
as the south were snared in a delusion, and were going to be 
subjected to sad reverses, disasters and disappointments in 
their calculations, and that there was yet a day before us 
the coming of which many of us would not abide. 

Who may abide the coming day, 
And then sustain no harm or loss ? 

Fire and soap must cleanse away 
Pollution, filth and marring dross. 

When fire gold doth well refine, • 

And soap the filth from cloth clean, 

The gold will then more brigetl}^ shine, 
The cloth too-ether close adhere. 



112 

When God has thvis refined the land, 
And shall with peace or order bless, 

An image from the artist's hand 
Shall then appear in righteousness. 

Though greatly "we have been at fault, 

In evil long we took delight ; 
The Lord the righteous will exalt 

To bliss and honor in his sight. 

The nation who the Lord obeys. 
Submitting to His wise command, 

He will to wealth and honor raise. 
And long preserve them in the land. 

But nations who forget the Lord, 

And will against his laws rebel. 
He them will scourge with plague and sword, 

And (iownward turn them into helL 



CHAPTER YI. 

OCCURRENCES ON THE WAY TO MOUNT ZION, ILLINOIS. 

Monday morning I tried to make some disposition of my 
horse, so that I coukl go with the rest of the company, but 
failed to do it. I then thought I woukl go to Eastport, and 
take passage on a boat, intending to leave my horse with 
some person to keep as their own until I should call for it, 
as I still cherished the fond hope that it would not be long 
before I could again return in peace. 

As I knew that the citizens of Marion county, Ala., had 
been trading with the northern people at Eastport, I thought 
I would write a letter to my people, and leave it at Eastport 
to be conveyed by some of the Alabamians, and mailed at 
Pikeville. This met the wishes of the company, and several 
of them loaned me a small sum of money to pay my expen- 
ses to Illinois. As some of my nephews had an uncle and 
some other relations in Macon county, near Decatur, in that 
state, they expected to go to that point. 

I set out for Eastport, leaving them still waiting for the 
train. As I was passing some soldiers near the stream that 
flows from the Tuscumbia springs, I heard one of them say : 
"There goes that old hutternuf," which was the first time I 
recollect to have heard the appellation applied to a man, and 
did not comprehend its whole import, as it is now under- 
stood. 

It was now late, and the distance I think is about thirty 
miles. The most of the way was along lanes through a rich 
valley, where the traveler has to go many miles among farms 
without passing a house, and when he comes in sight of a 
dwelling, it is like a little town, and if he is a Bible reader, 
is reminded of the language of the prophet, Isaiah V, 8, 9, 
"Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay fields to 
*— 10 



114 

fields till there is no place that may be placed alone in the 
midst of the earth/' Of a truth many houses shall be des- 
olate, even great and fair without inhabitant. 

I failed to dispose of my horse, and stopped twelve miles 
short of Eastport, at a house where I lodged with a seces- 
sionist, who treated me kindly, without charge. On arriving 
at Eastport, I found that the trade with the Alabamians had 
been stopped, and my last hope of communication cut oif. I 
failed, also, of getting on a boat, but was kindly treated by 
the soldiers. I then fell in with a man of Irish descent, 
who advised me not to sell my beast there, but to take it to 
St. Louis, where, after paying for transportation, I could get 
more for it than I could get there. He had bought a 
mule which he said he was goingto take there to sell. 

We learned that at Pittsburg Landing we could 
get on a boat- so we set off in haste, rode till after 
night, and stopped one mile short of the Landing. The day 
following we got all necessary arrangements made and took 
passage on the steamer Sunshine, with the promise of being- 
landed at St, Louis on the third day, but the boat was pressed 
to convey government horses to Eastport, to and from which 
we were taken during the night, and did not start for St. 
Louis until the evening after. My comrade insisted that I 
should take cabin passage, but I told him that the present 
condition of myself and family would not justify me in do- 
ing so, and I would be at no expense that I could reasonably 
avoid. 

The boat traveled slowly, and stopped several times to 
take on and put off loading, so that we were detained several 
days longer than we had contracted for. During this time 
I was greatly annoyed by the profanity and vices of the 
hands and passengers ; but I got in favor with the carpen- 
ter, who gave me leave to keep my clothes and provisions in 
his shop, and occupy it myself when he was not using it. 
He gave me the key so that I could go in and out at pleas- 
ure. There I could retire and read for hours without an- 
noyance, and there I lodged at night, and also enjoyed some 
seasons of pleasant conversation with the carpenter. He 
was of an opinion, like the Jews with regard to circumcis- 
ion : that unless a man be baptised he cannot be saved, and 
I supposed by baptism he meant immersion. He said if I 
could disprove the correctness of that belief from the Bible, 
he would like me to do it. I told him I had no pleasure in 



115 

controversy, and I would have him to understand that in all 
the only object I had in view was that he might be profited 
by it. I said if he was candid, I thought I could prove so 
plainly from the Bible that a person could be saved without 
water baptism, that he , would acknowledge it himself. I 
asked him if he thought the word Paradise, where it was 
used in the New Testament, meant Heaven, or a state of 
happiness. He said he did. Said I, "You remember that 
when the Savior was crucified between two thieves, that 
when one of them reviled, the other prayed to him, saying: 
' Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom,' 
the Lord said : ' To-day thou shalt be with me in Paradise.' 
There he had to hang until he died, without any chance for 
being baptised, and if Paradise means Heaven or a state of 
happiness, he was saved." He acknowledged that it looked 
as if it was so. The subject never was mentioned again, 
and we parted as friends, while he expressed a desire for 
my welfare. 

Perhaps it was the first evening after we started down the 
river, a youth came to me about sunset and asked for a small 
sum of money, which I handed to him without thinking or 
asking what he wanted with it, but was hardly gone from me 
when I thought of his object and felt that I had done wrong, 
having no doubt that he intended to spend it for intoxica- 
ting drinks, which I knew was kept on the boat. Perhaps 
on the day following one of the young boatmen almost 
forced me to share in their dinner. I had hardly begun 
when I thought of his object and left, but he afterwards 
came to me for money to get a dram with. I said I did not 
use it myself nor would I furnish means to get it for others. 
He plead earnestly for it. I told him if it was anything he 
really needed and that was for his good, I would cheerfully 
help him to it. I told him of its effects upon the mind and 
body, health and property, mind and character, and upon 
society &c., till he acknowledged the evil and almost prom- 
ised to refrain from it ; but I saw that he had no relish for 
my company and conversation afterward. 

A short time afterward, I saw lying on the cabin floor a 
stout looking man, into whom the evil spirit had entered, 
and thrown and held him down in a state of unconscious- 
ness, affording a most loathsome, sickening, shameful and 
degrading exhibition of human filthiness and abomination, 
and furnished a page in the history of intemperance, writ- 



116 

ten in hieroglyphics too plain to be misunderstood. In the 
presence of my dram drinking friend I could silently and 
significantly point to this living illustration of the truth of 
my previous remarks. As I was walking toward the vender 
of this qualifying spirit, for several paces I looked him in 
the face. Said he : "What makes you look so straight at 
me ?" I replied that it made me feel very unpleasant to see 
that man, and I was looking to see how he felt upon the 
subject; but he made no reply. 

Not long after embarking, my companion from Eastport 
came to me and said he had gained enough since he came on 
the boat by gaming to pay his passage to St. Louis, and ap- 
peared to think that he was doing much better than I. He 
had in a previous conversation acknov/ledged the improprie- 
ty of gambling, but would not agree to keep himself clear 
of it. I gave him to understand that I did not covet his 
fortune, nor begrudge him his lot. We often met and coun- 
seled together on the boat. 

On the Sabbath as we went up the Mississippi, he came 
to me with marks of dissatisfaction in his countenance, and 
requested me to keep watch at a certain place on the boat so 
that nothing should be cast overboard unseen. Said he, 
"Some villain has stolen my coat, and I am going to have 
the boat searched." Said I, "Perhaps this is for the money 
you got by gambling." The boat was searched, but the coat 
was not found ; but an officer's coat was found which had 
been stolen. The last I saw of my unfortunate friend, he 
was hurrying off the boat at St. Louis, and said he was go- 
ing to have a regular search for his coat. 

This was on Tuesday, the 29th of July, one week from 
the time we had met at Eastport, in Mississippi. 

I immediately passed over to the Illinois side, and set out 
to go to Decatur, intending to set into work as soon as I could 
get into business in good society. I had been so annoyed 
with wickedness and profanity, that I felt like getting if pos- 
sible where I could never hear it again. I thought that 
from the time I fell in with the soldiers at Tuscumbia, till I 
left the boat at St. Louis, I had in less than two weeks heard 
more profane language, than I had heard in all my lifetime 
before — near fifty years. For hours after leaving the boat, 
when anything would make a noise or sudd n start about me 
the language of the boatmen would rush into my mind, as 
the next thing, according to established order. 



117 

I had not gone far when, to my surprise, I found a man 
who justified the southern rebellion, and said the confedera- 
cy was contending for nothing but their rights, and thought 
they vfould gain them, and also represented them as having 
been the most successful that far. The first man I met with 
whose appearance seemed to give him a claim to my confi- 
dence. I asked him how far I would have to go before I 
would get into good society. I think he said ten or fifteen 
miles } said they v/ere nearly all foreigners in the region 
where I met him. I think before, or soon after passing 
Collinsville, while paying my last toll on the plank road, 
through the window, I saw an old fiimily Bible in the house, 
and, pointing to it, I asked if there were any people about 
there who made that book the rule of their lives. The an- 
swer was, the man at the next house did : he also wanted a 
hand to work for him. This was joyful news. I went to 
his house and told my business. He was a weakly man and 
wanted help that would take some of the heavy work ofi" his 
hands. I told him I was not very able for heavy work my- 
self, but was willing to do what I was able, and if I could 
not give satisfaction I would be willing to be turned off. 

After we had conversed for a while, he thought I would 
hardly be able to do his work, and we concluded to make no 
engagement. He would have taken my horse and kept it 
for me, but I thought it would probably be inconvenient for 
me to get it again. He appeared to take an interest in giv- 
ing any useful information that he could, and told me where 
would be a good place to stop for lodging. 

Having passed Collinsville and Troy, I lodged thirty 
miles from Greenville, Bond county. The second day after, 
on the way to Decatur, before noon, I stopped with an old 
minister named Hutchinson, who asked many questions and 
appeared to sympathize much with me and my friends from 
the south, and expressed the desire that we might get safely 
together. He detained me with conversation until after din- 
ner. I felt happy and thankful for kind friends and hospi- 
talities. He directed me to a good man who was needing 
help, but he had concluded not to hire any one that season, 
but he told me of a good man on my way with whom I could 
lodge. I accordingly was taken in by him and treated kindly. 
His wife was of Tennessee, and was acquainted with the 
people and places that I had known something of in that 
country. She had been acquainted with my older brother 



118 

and a cousin, who were college mates and graduates at Wasli- 
ington college, in East Tennessee, A. D. 1819. Here they 
had family worship, which was quite a treat, and difFering 
much from evening and morning scenes on a steamboat. 

We spent the most of the night in conversation. On the 
next day which was Friday, the 1st of August, I passed 
and conversed with S. Paisley; went to Hillsborough, a dis- 
tance of three miles, and wrote a letter of inquiry to Deca- 
tur, and returned to Paisley's, and next morning set in to 
save hay. The next day I attended preaching at Hillsbor- 
ough at eleven and by candlelight. I worked at hay making 
till some time in the day on Thursday, when, being unwell, 
I went to Hillsborough and received a letter from my son, 
with the intelligence that the company had all got to their 
destination, and although most of them had been sick, were 
then able to do some work. I returned and helped to haul 
in hay. At night and next morning wrote a letter, which I 
took to the office at Hillsborou^-h, where I bought and made 
some instruments for working on clocks, having left my in- 
struments for that purpose at home and being in a shoe- 
maker's shop and hearing his prices, as I had followed shoe- 
making some from my youth, I thought I could make wages 
at that business. I heard that there was a shoemaker at 
Irving who was in need of an assistant, and concluded to try 
to get in with him. I returned to Paisley's and put handles 
on my new instruments and worked on his clock. 

During this time I worked for him I had a cough which 
I had been subject to for years. He said he thought I 
would not stand this climate long ; my cough reminded him 
of his brother who had died of consumption. So far as do- 
mestic attachments and the comforts of the world were con- 
cerned, this was not a very flattering prospect to me in my 
situation. 

While sitting alone one day under a tree in the yard, 
where I supposed no eye saw me, my family came to me with 
an unusual force, especially the youngest children. I was 
for a little season completely overcome of grief. But again 
self government was restored, and has not entirely failed me 
at any time since, though the severest trial had not yet 
come. 

On Saturday, the 9th of August, I and Mr. Paisley went 
together to Hillsborough, and when about to separate he 
asked mo if I would not return with him and attend church 



119 

there on Sabbatli. I chose to go on to Irving, but when 
there, the man with whom I expected to get into business, 
would not agree to take me in unless I would stay with him 
some months ; but as I had written to my son for informa- 
tion concerning labor and wages where he was, and was ex- 
pecting an answer, I was not prepared to make such an en- 
gagement. As it was then near night, I put up in Irving, 
and thinking it was Friday, inquired for places where I 
could probably get into work, intending to go next day and 
attend to that matter preparatory to employment during the 
next week. In the morning I was up at the dawn of day, 
but being up stairs, I waited for those below to rise. Mean- 
time I took out my diary, and, to my surprise. I discovered 
that it was the Sabbath. Then I saw the propriety of Mr. 
Paisley's invitation to attend church. And now the ques- 
tion vfith me was, "What must I do ? I did not wish to tra- 
vel on the Sabbath, but I was at a tavern and expected of 
course my bill would be higher than at a private house. But 
notwithstanding my straightened circumstances, I resolved 
to slay there until Monday, be charged as I might; the 
Lord would provide. I saw a church there, and thought I 
would probably have an opportunity of hearing preaching, and 
if an opportunity offered, might take a part in public services. 

To this time no one in that country knew that J ever ex- 
ercised in public. Having decided in my mind what course 
to pursue, I went down and in due time inquired after the 
church arrangements for the day, but the inn keepers could 
tell me nothing definite about it ; they thought there was 
going to be Sabbath school that morning at the church, and 
directed me for further information to a family who, they 
said, were members of it. 

Having obtained the necessary information I went to Sab; 
bath school, was invited to take a part in the reading and 
answering of questions in a Bible class, when I was aston- 
ished at their questions and answers, till a man came in, who 
giive an interesting lecture upon the observance of the Sab- 
bath and the advantages of Sabbath schools. Before he was 
through the bell rang for preaching. 

At the close of the exercises, as there was no appointment 
for the evening, I asked one who appeared to be a leader if 
tliey would accept of an appointment for a stranger to ad- 
dress them that evening. He said they would gladly, and 
the appointment was published, and the word got out that a 



120 

refugee from tlic south was going to address the people, and 
considerable of a congregation assembled in eager expecta- 
tion of iiCiiring a refugee, and no doubt expected to hear 
much about things in the south, and honored me with the 
best of attention till I had finished my remarks, and were 
yet not satisfied. 

My clothing was home manufiicture. made by my own 
family, and as the weather was warm I had gone to meeting 
without my coat. I introduced myself to the congregation 
by remarking that my appearance before them that day was 
rather singular, but if they knew the circumstances under 
which I had come there, they would be more disposed to 
pity than to blame. But as it was more consistent with the 
ofiice I filled and the example of Him whom I professed to 
serve, to seek the happiness of others than to excite sympa- 
thy for myself, I would say to them as he said to those who 
bewailed and lamented him as he wan going to be crucified : 
"Weep not for me but weep for yourselves and your chil- 
dren." And he said to Peter, when he went to wash his 
feet, "What I do thou knowest not now, but shall know 
hereafter." So the full import of what I say you may not 
understand now, but may find out hereafter. Then I went 
through with the appropriate exercises, without referring, 
so far as I can recollect, in a single instance, to the political 
condition of the country. I felt that I was aided in effort; 
I saw evidence that others felt the same, whether very cor- 
rectly or otherwise. 

The minister who addressed them in the forenoon re- 
mained for the evening exercises, and appeared to feel deep- 
ly on subjects hinted at in the discourse. Some of the peo- 
ple were greatly disappointed because I had told them no- 
thing concerning things in the south, and wished me then 
to add that to my discourse. I refused, saying that was not 
the proper business of the day. They replied that at such 
a time they thought it was proper to do it. I said I did not 
feel at liberty to do it ; we had had two discourses that day 
upon subjects proper for us to occupy our thoughts upon, 
and, with that, we ought to be satisfied ; and when I would 
not, on that day, comply with their wishes, they wished mc 
to do it the next day. I said I did not know that I had any- 
thing to relate that would be of any real benefit to them ; 
that I was on expense and did not wish to be detained. One 
person said it would not cost me anything if I would give 



121 

them a discourse ; I could go and stay with liim. So I 
agreed to meet them the next night, and the appointment 
was published accordingly. I took the man at his offer, and 
went and remained with him till Monday morning. I then 
set out and returned in the evening to Irving without suc- 
cess. But hearing of a man a mile and a half or two miles 
distant who was wanting help, I get oif to see, but was over- 
taken and detained some time by a storm of wind and rain, 
so that by the time I got to see the man sought for and ar- 
rangements made for business, and was ready to start for 
my appointment, it was sundown ; and as I had traveled all 
day without feeding, went on foot; and by the time I got to 
the place for speaking the people were coming out to leave. 
"Old man," said some of the crowd, "what does this mean ? 
Why were you not here sooner ? You must give an account 
of yourself." I said if they would go back into the house 
a was ready to do all that, and to fulfill my promise. They 
went back. As I was going into the house I heard one say, 
"There he is now, so drunk he can't walk steady." Accord- 
ingly, I told the cause of being so late ; then gave a brief 
sketch of my calling and manner of life, to show them that 
they could not reasonably expect me to go into an extensive 
and detailed account of things in the country I had left. I 
then made a brief statement of important facts that I knew 
as such, and things that I had by report, as rumors that I 
would not be responsible for the truth of. 

As there was a number who expected soon to start for the 
army, I intended the best part of my discourse to be devoted 
■to their benefit, but as it was late I had to be brief. When 
I thought I was through, a voice proceeding from the crowd 
said : "We would like to know how you got away from the 
south." Said I, "If the people are willing to be detained 
that much longer, they can have that also." Many voices 
responded, "Let us have it," so I added that to the account. 

I had the fortune to be lodged near the church, and was 
at my post in the morning in time to meet my engagement, 
where I worked two days at a threshing machine, till I was 
entirely overdone. The day following I helped to haul a 
stack of oats. This I stood tolerably well. The next day I 
worked on a clock at Irving. 

Being disappointed by not receiving a letter as I had ex- 
pected, and fearing that it was in consequence of something 
serious, I set out next day for Decatur, and traveled most of 

-11 



122 

the day through prairies, where I was terribly annoyed with 
flies ; and often as I looked over those vast natural meadows, 
thought of the speeches I had heard in Alabama the sum- 
mer before, concerning northern men wanting to take the 
land in the south for foreigners and free negroes. There 
was space enough to colonize thousands, on what I thought 
far better land than most of Alabama. 

Owing to a previous recommendation, I lodged that night 
at Mr. Vermilion's, with whose convorsation and family order 
I was much entertained and highly delighted. In the morn- 
ing he made me welcome to remain over Sabbath and attend 
church with him, free of cost. I acknowledged the gene- 
rosity, but owing to a conscientious prejudice, declined the 
favor, and went a few miles to a church of United Presby- 
terians, where they had Sabbath school but no appointment 
for preaching that day. I introduced myself and proposed 
preaching in the evening, which was agreed to, but hearing 
that there was an appointment for a farewell sermon to be 
delivered net many miles from there that evening I objected 
to having an appointment that would conflict with it, and 
said I would prefer attending it and have none of my own ; 
so the conclusion was to have a discourse at the close of 
Sabbath school, and to attend the other appointment in the 
evening. 

After my discourse, I was solicited to have an appoint- 
ment on the following day, to address the people on the state 
of the country, especially of the south. I excused myself, 
as I had made my calculations to be near Decatur the next 
day. I was kindly entertained by Mr. Wadell. We atten- 
ded the evening appointment, and it was again proposed to 
me to make an appointment. If I would, was promised as 
many attendants as could hear me. But I still declined the 
honor, having no desire to become popular in a political line. 

The evening and morning was spent pleasantly, and I was 
pleased with the society which I had found. 

The next day my host accompanied me several miles, and 
my ideas of the new country were considerably elevated. 
That day I passed through much good country, and that 
evening fell in with some acquaintances from the south, in 
the neighborhood of Mount Zion, southeast of Decatur, just 
four weeks from the time we had started from Tuscumbia. 
They had nearly all been sick, but, with the exception of 
one, who had a fever, were able for some business. 



123 

After visiting several places during the following day, to 
see the friends and relatives from Mississippi, and to get ad- 
vice for the sick, I lodged with Mr. Bell, where I remained 
the next day with the sick, and prepared a letter to send 
home. After making, so far as I could, the necessary ar- 
rangements to get the letter conveyed to and through the 
confederate lines to its place of destination, the next thing 
was to try to get into some regular employment. 



CHAPTER VII. 

FIRST FALL AND WINTER'S EXPERIENCE IN THE NORTH. 

For tliis purpose I made an engagement with a man to 
work on a fixrm, by the month, and was to set in with him 
in a short time. I then went und chopped a few days at a 
sawmill, at which some of the Mississippi boys were work- 
ing, but some had left on account of the wickedness that 
prevailed there. I felt a deep interest in keeping our com- 
pany from being scattered and exposed to bad company 
and tried to give the best advice I could under existing cir- 
cumstances. There some of the boys had a little house and 
boarded themselves. 

When I had cut and put up four and a half cords of wood 
I went to work on the farm, but was disappointed. My em- 
ployer had taken in a man with a fVimily, and had no use 
for me. I then went where my son was employed and we 
repaired a clock, and after looking around for other employ- 
ment, returned to the mill. As it was thought I could not 
stand to work out through the winter, I went to Decatur to 
get into business in a shoe and boot shop, but failed in eon- 
sequence of an expected draft. I then went and worked 
about ten days on a farm. And on the 11th of September, 
went to work in a shoe shop in Decatur. Sadly annoyed 
with profane language from my boss, and when in a friendly 
manner I spoke to him of the impropriety of unnecessary 
words which he used, he took it unkindly and turned upon 
me swine like, to rend my feelings with ridicule, scorn and 
blasphemy. 

Being informed of a man at Tacusa who was wanting a 
shop mate, I took passage on the next evening train and 
landed at Tacusa after dark and found the employer sick. I 
then inquired for work on a farm, and learned where help 



125 

was wanted and good wages offered, and was the next morn- 
ing in time to do a day's work. 

The next day, being the Sabbath, I preached at Tacusa. 
My engagement was to break stubble land, which I contin- 
ued to do till stopped by rain. I then saw the shoemaker, 
and found I would not suit him. I then resolved that when 
my time was out on the farm, if my friends thought it ad- 
visable, I would set up a shop of my own and board my- 
self. 

My employer now wanted me to help to save prairie hay. 
I objected, and said it was not in our contract, that I was not 
able to stand that kind of work. He said it was not very 
hard. I thought I had experience enough to be a compe- 
tent judge. But he insisted till I yielded to his wishes, and 
helped two days, saving and delivering hay. Then came the 
Sabbath ; but as I was suspected of being a spy I had no in- 
vitation to preach, and remained at the house of my em- 
ployer. The night before I had commenced dreaming, which 
with me is commonly an indication of bad health ; the night 
following I had strong premonitions of approaching sick- 
ness. In the morning I told my dream, and said I was go- 
ing to be sick. I went to work as usual, but before we had 
finished putting our load on the wagon, I was taken very 
sick with bilious derangement, violent vomiting, and had to 
be waited on for some time before I could finish the load, 
and when I drove into the scales for weighing, I slipped 
down and crept into the station house, and lay on the sacks 
of grain till evening, when I saw a wagon that was to pass 
the house of my employer. I got leave to stretch myself on 
the bottom of the same, and thus took conveyance to my 
late house, where, from choice, 1 took my bed on the floor 
till some time the next day. 

From what I had witnessf^d in the family, I thought them 
unskillful nurses of the sick, and the prospect was that I 
was going to be very sick. But I thought I probably would 
be able to go on the evening train to Decatur, in the neigh- 
borhood of which I had acquaintances who had some skill 
in such diseases. I alse saw the family were uneasy, who 
Bpoke of their want of skill and means. I proposed going 
to the depot — they were fearful I was not able, but were 
heartily willing if I could go safely. I resolved to risk it, 
and was conveyed to the station, where were some refugees 
from Mississippi, who had arrived there the Saturday be- 
*— 11 



126 

fore, but I was too unwell to have mucli conversation with 
them, which, to me, was very desirable, Being very much 
pained I applied to a physician for something to give relief. 
The remedy, contrary to expectation produced vomiting, re- 
moved some bilious matter and thereby effected a transitory 
relief. 

I hoped that when the train came I could have a chance 
to lie down and have an easy ride ; but, to ray disappoint- 
ment, when I entered the car, I could scarcely get room to 
sit down, and thus, as best I could, had to sit till conveyed 
to Decatur, and then to walk and carry my clothing from 
the depot to town, where I lodged. 

On the following day, while waiting for conveyance into 
the country, my sufferings were so intolerable at times, that 
I about despaired of being able to get aw^ay. A doctor gave 
me a dose of medicine, after the taking of which I obtained 
relief, and was brought to a lively sense of the worth of 
health, freedom from suffering, and of my unmindfulness of 
and a want of gratitude for daily blessings and comforts, and 
soon began to feel an inclination to sleep. I obtained medi- 
cine and directions for treating my case, and was conveyed 
near to a house at which I was kindly treated. And while 
resting upon a comfortable bed, was lead to feel thankful for 
what I enjoyed; and, especially, when I remembered that 
for want of it many a soldier languished and died among 
strangers, away from home. 

By the next week I was able to ride around and make ar- 
rangements for setting up a shop of my own. To accom- 
plish this I had to borrow money from the boys, to be able 
to get things necessary to furnish a shop for work, and 
board. I was tired of wandering homeless and in the way 
about other people's houses, and wished to have a home of 
my own, where I could have something according to my 
own notions of propriety; and as my son was not stout, 
I feared he would have an uncomfortable way of getting 
through the winter, I thought if necessary I might be able 
in that wa} to take him in. And it so turned out that be- 
fore I was quite ready to go to housekeeping he was taken 
sick, and the man for whom he was working then wished 
him to leave. He having heard what I had been preparing 
for, came to find a home with me. 

On the 11th of October we took up our residence in a 
, near Mount Zion church and seminary, sometimes 



127 

working in our shop and sometimes at other employments, 
the remainder of the fall and winter. 

This place had been recommended to me as being in the 
best society in the state, (when perhaps sixty or eighty 
miles oiF), and before I was aware that I had got to the fa- 
vored place, I had made arrangements for wintering there, 
where I found many worthy old people and some choice fam- 
ilies. But, alas ! the children were too much left to them- 
selves in too many instances to be much credit to themselves 
or honor to their parents ; and such was the language used 
on the playground and around the shop where I worked that 
I honestly thought sometimes I would not have a family of 
children brought up there for the best estate in the country. 

Again, I was mortified to see the jealousy and prejudice 
that prevailed among the people of that country, a number 
of whom appeared to entertain a high opinion of their own 
superior talents and attainments, and while they looked 
down upon others as quite below, exposed their own naked- 
ness, even to persons of ordinary minds and superficial ob- 
servation, and to see the people both of church and state 
have more zeal for names and parties than for the general 
good of the people. 

I had few appointments for preaching during my stay 
there, and mostly under unfavorable circumstances. A num- 
ber of Sabbaths passed in view of a church without preach- 
ing, while seasons of sadness and depression of spirits rolled 
on. During the winter I became so afflicted with rheuma- 
tism, that I was much disqualified for business, so that 
though I worked late, I could not in the day and half the 
night do a good day's work. I purchased corn and had the 
use of a stable near by for the use of my horse, so that I 
could make speedy trips when I went out on business. 

During the winter and spring I restored most of the idle 
clocks to their office in the surrounding country. The most 
of our refugee company wintered and boarded themselves in 
two small houses near their daily labor. We occasionally 
saw each other, and our design was, if we could not return 
to our former home, to select some suitable place and colon- 
ize together. We saw enough to impress us deeply with the 
importance of good society to live in, and this was sadly 
lacking in many places in this state where some of us had 
been. The Sabbath was not generally observed as it was in 
the community we had left. Morals very different and fam- 



128 

ily government out of use. As we could get no news from 
home, and we saw accounts of outrages being committed on 
Union people in the south, and of women and children be- 
ing in a suffering condition, it was thought that some mea- 
sures should be taken to know the condition of those whom 
we had left. We had learned that a regiment of Union sol- 
diers, mostly from Alabama and Mississippi, was being made 
up at Corinth. I being the oldest and most extensively ac- 
quainted, it was resolved that I should go on that business. 
I had determined to quit the shop and try my fortune at 
clock repairing, so soon as roads would get in order for tra- 
veling. As I had made very little during the winter, I was 
in need of money to pay my way south ; so I made arrange- 
ments for leaving the shop about the first of April. 

By this time our little flock was scattered into two or three 
counties, wherever they could get suitable employment. I 
wished to see all if I could before going south, as I then in- 
dulged a hope that I would get home in the summer and not 
return north. According to previous arrangement, leaving 
my son to close our business at Mount Zion, I started on the 
1st of April, 1863, to work on clocks and make a farewell 
visit among my friends. I found a number of clocks out of 
order in and about Cerro Grordo, where I remained till the 
next week. There I spent the Sabbath with interesting so- 
ciety that reminded me of home. I attended Sabbath school 
and sermon with them in the morning and preached in the 
evening, having the company of a nephew part of the day. 

Having finished my work in that neighborhood, I went to 
Bennett, in Piatt, and thence to Monticello, where, as I sup- 
posed, I heard of two nephews, at a place about ten miles 
northwest. There I arrived after sunset on Saturday, and 
found one nephew instead of two at T. E. Bendurents, with 
whom I attended church on Sabbath, and remained till Mon- 
day. 

On my way back to Monticello, while stopping to work 
on a clock, I found the other nephew whom 1 expected to 
find at Mr. B's, neither of which knew where the other was. 
I think I found them wandering as sheep without a shep- 
herd, and prepared the way for them to get together. At 
the close of the week I was again in the neighborhood of 
Cerro Grordo, and there with my friends attended church on 
Sabbath. On the 20th I returned by where my son was at 
work, and leaving him to dispose of our shop property I vis- 



129 

ited Decatur and Mount Zion and my good friend Bell. On 
the next morning, the 21st of April, I started to go south 
and repaired clocks by the way. On the 23d I was happy 
to spend the night with a son of a Rev. Mr. Gray, with 
whom I had been acquainted many years before in Missis- 
sippi, and on the 24th at D. Etmire's, was taken sick in the 
fail. From there T visited Rome refugees from Mississippi, 
and received a letter from a Mr. Thompson, directed to H. 
H. Jennings, Post Provost Clerk, at Vanceller's office, Cor- 
inth, Mississippi. 

On Saturday nif ht I fell in at Wadell's, where I remained 
till morning and attended church on Sabbath. On the fol- 
lowing Tuesday evening after dusk, I called for lodging at a 
house where, after telling what was my occupation and rea- 
sons for calling ^r lodging, the landlord remarked that, 
from the business I followed, he supposed I saw a great 
many people, and asked me if I heard much said about the 
war. I replied that at some places I heard something said 
about it and at others it was not mentioned at all. I said I 
had heard some news in Taylorville that day that I would 
like to know the truth of, though it was thought to be reli- 
able, as it had come in the papers two days in succession. 

When I had told what the news was, (which was of dis- 
aster to the confederates), nothing more was said for some 
time, but I heard a heavy breath or two escape from them.- 
I thought I knew how their politics went, which was soon 
expressed in unmistakeable language, charging all the ca- 
lamities and disasters of the war on Lincoln, and laying 
down the negro as the foundation stone of the whole fabric. 
He said so many hard things of the administration that I 
gave him to understand that T thought his charges were ra- 
ther too heavy ; and as he had been speaking unconstitu- 
tional acts, I remarked that I made no claims to being a pol- 
itician, or to know very much about those matters, but I 
knew a great many were complaining of the constitution be- 
ing violated, but I acknowledged I was ignorant and did not 
know wherein it was done, and asked him to iijform me of 
some instances where it had been done. He said Lincoln's 
whole administration was a violation of the constitution. As 
I could not underst-md to my satisfaction how that could be, 
the old lady took the case into her hands and expressed a 
suspicion that I was a friend to Lincoln, and said if I was 
that I had come to the wrong place. I replied that I did 



130 

not know that lie had ever done me any harm, or that I had 
any right to be his enemy. She said he had done everybody 
harm in this government, and if she had known I was that 
kind of a man I should not have staid there, for she had 
said that no man who was a friend to old Abe should stay in 
her house. I said if she did not wish me to stay there, all 
she had to do was to say so and I would leave. She said I 
could not get to stay anywhere else in that neighborhood. I 
said I knew I could, if she did not wish me to stay there 
jut to say so ; but she did not venture to say it, but contin- 
ued to annoy me with her clamor about the negroes, saying 
that old Abe was a grea>- deal better to the negroes than to 
the soldiers ; that he had the negroes riding on horses, and 
the soldiers walking and carrying their knapsacks and blan- 
kets ; and how much more of this kind 4 cannot now tell. 
She said the negroes were where they ought to be ; they 
would do no good anywhere else. If they were free they 
would do no good, but would be a great deal worse off than 
they are. They were made to be servants, and that was 
their proper place, &c. 

I asked her to prove her doctrine. She said she could do 
it by the Bible, and took a Bible down with a place marked 
in it, and handed it to me to read the prooof for myself; and 
turning away, said : "The servants they had in old times 
were black." Said I, "You must prove that." She, turning 
back, said : "Well, if you will not believe the Bible I will 
put it up," and took it and laid it back on the shelf I said 
it did not matter, for I perhaps knew as well what was there 
as she did. 

While she was railing against Lincoln, and against believ- 
ing and doing things just because Lincoln said so. I re- 
plied that it was not Lincoln that said, "Thou shalt not 
speak evil of the ruler of thy people." She took the no- 
tion that I was an abolitionist, and also said she expected I 
was one of those men who had run away from the south to 
keep out of the army. Said I, "If I am, what of it?" 
"You ought to be sent back and made to fight for your 
country," was the answer. I asked if it would not be hard 
to have to fight for what we believed to be wrong. 

After a while I had leave to retire for the night, and was 
happy to be alone. Next morning, while at breakfast, I was 
entertained, or rather annoyed, with a long detail of what 
had been done in the south, till patience failed, and I said I 



131 

did not need instruction upon that subject for I had lived 
in the south ; 1 knew for myself what was done there, and 
perhaps knew some things that they knew nothing about. I 
knew that previous to the presidential election calls were 
made and volunteers were obtained professedly for the ex- 
press purpose of preventing Lincoln from taking his seat at 
Washington. Said I, "What do you think of that V The 
old lady said she did not know whether that was so or not. 
I said I was aware that some people were not willing to be- 
lieve the truth when they heard it, and there the subject 
dropped. 

When I asked the landlord his charge, he said : " Gro to 
the old woman. "" When I asked her she said a dollar. This 
was for a bed, a breakfast and feed for my beast ; for supper 
I had, and my beast fed before going there. The common 
charge there for a man and a horse's supper and breakfast 
was fifty ceats. She said if I had been the right sort of a 
man she would not have charged me anything. She also 
said she had two beds in her room, and she put abolitionists 
in one and other people in the other, and she had put me in 
the abolition bed. I said she charged me more tha?. any 
one else had since I had been in the state, and I thought she 
had no right to it; but if she could ask it, I could give it. I 
said it was hard, but light in comparison with some other 
things ; and I was well forewarned that I had hard things 
to bear, but had the comforting assurance that they should 
work together for my good. And as to being the right sort 
of a man, that was what I had been aiming to be ; and if I 
had been so ignorant and unfortunate as to be what I had 
aimed not to be, she ought to pity rather than blame me. 
This was at Funderburg, in the neighborhood of Taylor- 
ville, Christian county. The lesson I there learned was 
probably worth many times its cost. I afterwards used pre- 
caution, so as not often to stop where I was likely to be 
snakebitten. 

On Thursday the 30th, which by the President had been 
appointed for a day of fasting and prayer, I attended church 
in Hillsborough, Montgomery county, and spent the evening 
with S. Paisley, where I had done my first work in the 
state. On Saturday evening, the 3d of May, I stopped 
within six miles of Carlisle, where I remained until Mon- 
day. 

On Saturday night I heard of strange things as they were 



132 

thouglit, being done by spirit-rapping. Next day till noon, 
I spent in a grove near by, reading. After dinner some of 
the wonder workers came in, and were performing in a dif- 
ferent part of the house from where I was engaged in read- 
ing. Norman, the landlord, asked me to go and witness their 
performance. I did not wish to go, but yielded to his im- 
portunities and witnessed their performance, and saw them, 
if I am not deceived, trying to deceive others by doing 
themselves what thy attributed to an invisible spirit. They 
had a table beating time to music, answering questions and 
confirming propositions by a specified number of raps upon 
the floor. While it was performing, some three or four 
girls were sitting with their hands on it, and Norman caught 
hold of it and put his weight most on it, when, from the po- 
sition of their bodies and the swelling of the muscles in 
their arms and shoulders, I would have thought they were 
making great exertions, but they denied it all, and the table 
was silenced. 

The girls then said it was not to be expected that the 
spirit would perform while he was acting in such a manner. 
He replied : "It is a poor spirit that is not stronger than I 
am.'' It was asked if the spirit there had ever inhabited a 
human body : if it had ever been at the moon, &c. I was 
filled with disgust and abhorrence, though I said nothing. 

It was requested that I should answer some questions. I 
refused. They insisted, till I told them there was one ques- 
tion they might ask ; that was, if the spirit there was a Di- 
vine spirit. The Bible, which I held in my hand, was dic- 
tated by it. It was given by the inspiration of a holy and 
unchangeable Spirit, whereby the rules there laid down 
were given to men. I then repeated some of the command- 
ments, the institution of the Sabbath, and repeated a part 
of the 58th chapter of Isaiah, with regard to its proper ob- 
servance, and asked if it was reasonale to suppose that the 
Holy Spirit would give answers to questions proposed by 
persons, when they were going contrary to. and trampling 
upon those rules. 

The medium spoke up in defense of their conduct, and 
said they had been singing good songs, and she thought that 
was a very proper exercise on the Sabbath. I said if it was 
done according to the dictates of the Spirit, it was all right. 
If they would sing with the spirit and with the understand- 
ing, but there was reason to fear that people too often sang 



133 

without caring or thinking of the meaning of the words, or 
of honoring God ; but for their own pleasure, because it is 
that for which they have a natural relish. 

I also said I was reminded of what the Spirit taught 
would be in the latter days, for it expressly says that in the 
last days men shall be lovers of their own selves and of 
pleasure more than God. That wicked men shall wax worse 
and worse, deceiving and being deceived ; that the coming 
of Christ shall be after the working of Satan, with all pow- 
er, and signs, and lying wonders, and deceiveableness of un- 
righteousness. They soon after took occasion to leave. 

The week following, having passed through Clinton, Wash- 
ington and Perry counties, and crossed Muddy river, in 
Jackson county, into a hilly and heavily timbered country, 
where was no more prairie. 

On Saturday I stopped at South Pass, in Union county, 
where I remained till Monday. On Sabbath I attended 
preaching in a grove, where they had a funeral sermon 
preached, the sacrament administered and their feet washed. 
I was delighted with their music, as it was more soft and 
harmonious than anything of the kind I had heard in the 
state, and reminded me of what I had heard in better days. 
Why it was that they made so many jars and discords in 
music in so many places where I had been, I could not tell, 
unless it was because every one felt competent to lead, and- 
did not regard any one as common leader. 

The manner in which female voices were sometimes used 
reminded me of the screaming and squalling of cats, fowls 
and wild animals, and was more like the strong wind that 
rent the mountain and broke the rock to pieces, than the 
still small voice that accompanied the presence of the Lord, 
and unlike the soft, harmonious church melody that corres- 
ponds with the harmonious spirit of angels, and of the just 
made perfect. 

Such spirits filled with love divine. 

As incense sweet to God incline; 
Inflated thus they upward rise, 

To seats of bliss beyond the skies. 

Again I pursued my way towards Cairo, sometimes de- 
lighted with the scenery by the way, and sometimes feeling 
as if things were going unfavorably with me, and sometimes 
rejoicing to see that they were for the best at last. Forin- 
—12 



134 

stance : On Wednesday the 13th, after traveling a part of 
the day in the rain, as my custom was, when I heard of any 
work in my line by the way, to attend to it, I left the road 
to do some work at a house where some refugees were at 
work. My job here proved to be a failure, and having paid 
for dinner and horse feed, I went on my way, feeling that I 
had been spending my time for no benefit ; but stopping to 
talk some with those refugees, I learned that at the next 
house on my way, and where a clock was out of order a refu- 
gee was staying, with whose name I was well acquainted. I 
went to the house and found, as I expected, that he was the 
son of a man whom I had known from my boyhood. He 
was from Alabama. This was a joyful meeting. He re- 
quested me to remain some days, and McMurrey, with whom 
he was staying, was pleased to have me do so. 

As T wished to leave my horse in that country till I went 
south, there I found an opportunity for doing so, and again 
felt that all was for the best. A request was made that I 
should remain and preach on the next Sabbath, and it was 
thought I could get plenty of work for several days. Though 
I then thought I was nearly clear of rheumatism, my gene- 
ral health was declining, and I complied with their request 
— fixed up a few clocks, wrote to my son and on Sabbath 
preached at 11 o'clock and at candle light 

On Monday, the 18th, I went on a train to Villa Ridge to 
Cairo. Furnished myself for the trip, and on the steamer 
Ruth took passage to Memphis, where we landed at 11 p. M. 
Tuesday, and remained on board until morning. 

In the morning I obtained a pass from the provost mar- 
shal. The morning train being gone I did not start for Cor- 
inth until the next morning, after undergoing the required 
examination. While stopping at a station by the way, a 
youth, who could not speak better English than I could, my- 
self being the judge, came to me and in an impudent man- 
ner, as I thought, said I had to be searched. I asked why 
that should be done, as it had been done before I entered 
the car. He said he was informed by telegraph and knew 
the day before that I was coming. I asked where and from 
whom it came. He did not tell, but said it was from some 
of my friends. I said I doubted it. He said it was from 
some who were better friends to theJr country than I was. I 
told himi doubted that too, and if he had heard anything 
of the kind, he had probably got it from a copperhead. He 



135 

denied it, but said I had to be examined, that it might be 
known what I had with me. I submitted to the claim. 

A short time before I had taken a little book out of my 
pocket, containing a list of names of persons for whom I 
had worked, and with whom I had lodged, to let a soldier 
see if any of them were persons with whom he was acquain- 
ted. We left our seats for the accommodation of others, and 
in doing so, dropped my book without knowing it. While 
I was being examined and was showing what I had with me. 
when I went to show my little book, I could not find it. 
The examiner said he did not have it, I said I had it just 
before he came, and I could prove it. A youth stepped up 
to us and asked what was lost. On being told, he presented 
the book, which but for this circumstance would have been 
lost. 

The examination soon ended ; then said I : "Sir, you have 
examined me, now show your authority for what you have 
done." Said he : "Do you think I have none ?" ^'I think 
it doubtful," said I, He said he had none to show, but 
there was an officer in another car who could bear witness of 
the ftict, and asked if I wished him brought. Said I: "If 
you have any authority let it be seen." He left, and again 
returned with a man who said the other had the right to 
search me and to have me stopped and searched if he chose. 
Said I : "If he had the authority it is all right." But 
whether he had the right or not, I never knew. 

An officer who had been absent and was returning to his 
post at Corinth, having heard and seen the foregoing, seated 
himself by me and commenced a conversation concerning 
my home, country, acquaintances, &c. He said there was 
one of their boys in the car who I probably was acquainted 
with, and told his name. I thought I knew him or his fa- 
ther. I found him to be one of my acquaintances, who had 
left home some time after I did. 

Again I was lead to notice with admiration how unprom- 
ising occurrences brought about most gratifying and benefi- 
cial results. This was a soldier of the first Alabama caval- 
ry, then stationed at Glendale. He while on a scout, had 
got separated from his company, and had to taljie a circuit- 
ous rout to get back. We had passed from Columbus, Ky., 
to Memphis on the same boat, and from Memphis in the 
same car, and did not recognize each other, till this occur- 
rence introduced us. By him I received the first informa- 



136 

tion concerning my family, and was happy to learn that our 
people had not been mistreated, and that, though they had 
been threatened with confiscation, all had passed harmlessly 
away. 

He also told of several others of our acquaintances, who 
were at Corinth and Glendale, and I then had a guide to 
the diiferent points I wished to visit. Along the way .1 large 
portion of the country was lying desolate ; fields without 
fences, houses vacant and no stock of any kind to be seen 
about those waste places. Some of the houses were occu- 
pied by soldiers. 

At one of the stations we learned that one of the pickets 
had been killed the night before, and one or two taken from 
their posts, and it was thought the train was likely to be 
fired into that day. As several soldiers and ofiicers were on 
the train, they were put in readiness to meet an attack, if 
made. We got through to Corinth about sunset and deli- 
vered Thompson's letter to Jennings, and with my new com- 
panion lodged at the Soldiers' Home. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

OCCURRENCES AT CORINTH AND GLENDALE. 

Next morning we set off for Grlendale, ten miles east of 
Corinth, and neither of us being stout we had to stop and 
restoccasionally by the way, through a country abounding 
with enemies. Late afternoon we arrived at camp, where I 
met with friends, from whom I learned something concern- 
ing my friends and kindred and the state of things in their 
country. 

While in camp I had my abode with a mess of soldiers, in 
which was one who had lived at my house, and had been 
there long after I had left, and gave an account of a distress- 
ing time of sickness in that neighborhood, and a number of 
deaths. Among the deceased of my relations was a brother, 
a sister and two neices, daughters of my only surviving broth- 
ers, and a daughter of my own. 

In some families nearly all had been sick. Such was the 
case with my own, and some were very near dying, and my 
oldest died. 

When all these things to me were told, 
AVhat deep emotions through me thrilled, 

As if the blood ran through me cold, 
And deep within the soul was chilled. 

How sad the picture fancy drew, 

Of those from whom I had to stay. 
While they such scenes were passing through, 

Till some by death were called away. 

Their dying features came to view, 

And scenes of last expiring breath, 
And chilly sweat their cheeks bedew, 

As they unconscious sink in death, 
* \2 



138 

Their glassy eyes did upward roll, 

As if to take a long farewell 
Of their released, departed soul, 

No more together there to dwell. 

The mortal strife is through at last, 

To be nenewed again no more ; 
Cold Jordon's waves all over pass'd, 

To other scenes beyond the shore. 

Now, Oh my God, may I indulge 

The wish, a thing so dear to know. 
That thou to me would this divulge. 

That they are free from sin and woe. 

True, in the church they had a name, 

And did some honor in that place ; 
If now on high they have the same, 

To them secured by saving grace, 

Oh, how my soul would then rejoice. 
My heart with inward pleasure swell. 

And I with joy could raise my voice, 
A Savior's wonderous works to tell. 

What troubles I could then out-brave, 

Above those fleeting sorrows rise. 
Nor let the solemn, silent grave. 

One mournful tear draw from mine eyes. 

But if there is a different state, 

To which the unbelieving go. 
It now with them is quite too late, 

The peaceful way of life to know. 

Nor can they profit by thy grief. 

Or all that friends can undergo, 
Nor yet obtain the least relief, 

By those with whom they fain would go. 

The case we must submit it now, 

To Him whose ways are just and right. 

And in submission humbly bow. 
For so it seemed good in his sight. 

The day after my arrival at Glendale, I went around and 
saw a number of my acquaintances, some of whom were 
sick. As their regiment was i ot full they had no chaplain. 
I was advised to go to the general and make arrangements 
for being appointed chaplain of their regiment. This I was 



139 

inclined to do if m}'^ health would enable me properly to fill 
the place 5 but of this I was doubtful. 

The day following being Sabbath, as there was little op- 
portunity during the day, I preached to the soldiers at night. 
It was distressing to witness the wickedness that prevailed 
in camp. The day following I went to the general's office at 
Corinth, and read the law with regard to the qualification 
and appointment of chaplain. While there I mailed letters 
to friends in Illinois with all the information that I could 
collect from home. I again returned to Glendale in poor 
health, and devoted part of the time to visiting the sick. 
This, I found was injurious to my health. I had enjoyed 
the pleasure of hearing from friends at home, but was in- 
formed that they had received no account of us. The next 
thing to be sought for, was some medium by which informa- 
tion could be communicated to them -, but I found there was 
no communication by mail; and if a private person was 
found by the confederates carrying a letter from north to 
south, though from husband to wife, death was the penalty. 
As men were there who had served in the confederate army, 
and were then serving in the Union army, who I saw and 
conversed with, and who had been caught with dogs by the 
confederates to compel them to aid in their cause ; and as 
there were families, parts of families and individuals coming 
to the Union lines from the south every few days, under 
circumstances which confirmed a shocking tale of dreadtul 
and desperate deeds, I could not doubt the danger of one 
losing his life if caught with a letter, and under such cir- 
cumstances I could not ask a person to carry one for me; so 
that I almost despaired of conveying any information to them 
concerning us. 

But as people were frequently passing privately from the 
Union lines to a section of country from fifteen to twenty 
miles from my home, and as one was going soon to a neigh- 
borhood where I was acquainted, I wrote the following 
acrostic, perhaps not verbatim, as I kept no copy of the 
first, which I supposed those acquainted with what it re- 
ferred to would understand ; but those who were not, one of 
a thousand would not be likely to understand anything 
about it, and no one would be damaged for carrying it. 

It was intended to show who the writer was, the person 
addressed and who from, and that the rest of our company 
were alive and well, and to inspire to hope and- confidence in 
God. 



140 

*Larephath's scenes again revive, 
fElijah's God will still contrive. 
Forever be his name adored, 
Eternal King, Almighty Lord. 

Endles as are His countless days, 
May we show forth His worthy praise ; 
Still trusting to His faithful word, 
That needed help He will afford. 

Each grief and we drive far away, 
Restore the peace for which we pray ; 
Though tears the face may oft bedew, 
Old aunts, uncles growing few. 

My firstling gone and Nancy too, 
And other plants that near them grew. 
Removed from time and mortal care, 
You where their ancient fathers are. 

Away from strife and war unjust. 
Returning to their mother dust, 
Entombed beneath the silent clod, ■ 
Their spirits all returned to God. 

As round their ancient parents nigh, 
Those plants did sicken droop and die, 
Those far from home and native land, 
In life and health and vigor stand. 

Those eyes that are as burning lamps. 
Light guarding hosts that round encamps 
The face that shines bright as the sun, 
Directs the race that they must run. 

Will be their help, and sun and shield, 
While they to Him their service yield. 
As He hath said in days of old. 
No good from them will He withhold. 

Now one thing more I here must tell, 
Then bid my friend a long farewell, 
This little song was first brought round, 
JNear where St. Paul Aquila found. 

This was written on the 29th of May, and read and ex- 
plained to some of my friends and the bearer, who all thought 
it would completely answer the purposes for which it was 
written. It was given to a man to carry as his own proper- 

* iKings, XVII, 9. p Kings, T, 14. Acts, XVIII, 1, 2. 



141 

ty, to be committed to faithful hands, who would convey it 
to my family, with verbal instructions to show it to my old- 
est brother, if they did not understand it. I have since been 
informed that they heard of it, but did not receive it. 

I remained about the camp during the week and furnished 
wood to do the cooking for the mess with whom I stayed, 
and frequently carried water, and often pitied the soldiers 
who had to be out day and night on a scout, and often came 
in tired, sleepy and hungry, and then had to cook their pro- 
visions. On Saturday night and Sabbath I preached to 
them again. 

The weather being damp, things about camp were in a 
condition well calculated to produce sickness. I thought of 
boarding at some house inthe neighborhood, from which I 
could visit the soldiers, and especially the sick, every day. 
But this was thought unsafe, as the secesh were slipping 
around, and doing mischief when they had an opportunity, 
I would be liable to fall into their hands. As I thought I 
could not stand it long to be all the time confined in the un- 
healthy atmosphere of the camp and hospital, I went to Cor- 
inth to get into employment there, and commenced work for 
a man who put me to dressing undried pine plank, where I 
was exposed to the scorching sun. I had a very annoying 
cough, and being thus exposed made it worse. 

After noon my employer said I was not fit to work, and 
paid me for a half day's labor, and I returned to Glendale 
and again preached to the soldiers. As the weather was 
damp and sometimes stormy, and I sometimes being alone in 
a damp tent, caught cold, and my health continued to de- 
cline, so I was convinced of my inability to perform the du- 
ties of a chaplain in the army, and that I would not be jus- 
tifiable in undertaking it. And as I saw no good ground of 
hope of getting home before fall, I thought it would be best 
to return to Illinois, where I could do something for a livli- 
hood, and might do something for the benefit of my family. 
From what I had seen among the soldiers, there was little 
chance to hope that I could be of much benefit to them. I 
thought I had seen profane and wicked men before, but the 
1st Alabama cavalry, I then thought, exceeded all for pro- 
fanity that I had ever known The religious and moral men 
among them were ashamed of their own country and coun- 
trymen, for many of them had no regard for the feelings of 
any class or profession. While I have been preaching to a 



142 

congregation of soldiers, others of them were fiddling and 
sporting so near, that I could hear them distinctly ; and 
some spent the time in card playing, which they continued 
till late hours in the night. 

I sometimes had occasion to remark, that when persons 
who knew my profession, principles and manner of life 
would curse and swear in my presence, I had little ground 
of hope of usefulness to them. I sometimes thought that 
such people would not be permitted to enjoy the benefits of 
a peaceable government, if established, though they might 
be instrumental in establishing it. 

Near Corinth was a large, fenceless field of cotton, culti- 
vated by contraband negroes, mostly women and children, 
The road from Corinth to Glendale passed through this field 
and some of the Glendale boys thought it their privilege to 
tease and perplex those black fools, as they thought them, 
some of whom, perhaps, had more sense, and not much less 
education, and no worse morals than a number of them, 
whose names in wisdom's volume may stand among the low- 
est class of moral Bedlamites. 

Adversity is a good school, 

When nothing else will teach a fool. 

Calamity subjects to rules 

When nothing else will humble fools. 

And sure this war with all its pain, 
Is but a cure for the insane, 
And all the shame, and woe, and grief. 
Is to reclaim from unbelief. 

Such is the scourge their sins provide, 
To humble well a nation's pride, 
The lowly raise, the proud bring low, 
The wonderous ways of God to show, 

And thus convince presumptuous fools, 
That God in earth and heaven rules ; 
And thus his glory brightly shines, 
Through wicked schemes for men's designs, 

And plainly shows, vain mortals ail, 
That pride is bound to have a fall, 
And make rebellious sinners know 
That wickedness will lead to woe. 

That which the just from evil takes, 
The wicked into shivers breaks, 



143 

To those it brings a better day, 
While these as chaff are blown away. 

The Lord the just will well refine, 
That they may all more brightly shine j 
From troublings then the wicked cease, 
And leave the world to perfect peace. 

The righteous then will long be blessed 
With happy days and peaceful rest, 
Sure once the Lord with mighty flood, 
Did make his threats and promise good. 

When He from earth all nations swept, 
In Noah's ark a seed was kept, 
And creatures all from earth erased. 
From that old bark were soon replaced. 

And those who then the Lord obeyed. 
Obtained the promise he had made. 
In smoke and vapor, fire and blood. 
Of late is heard the voice of God. 

Though thousands these may often tell 
The prophets' words are faithful still, 
And come the promise surely will, 
The hope of nations all fulfill. 

Though waiting long and anxious quite, 
Some hoped and died without the sight, 
Though nations many be erased. 
And much of earth an empty waste. 

In faithfulness to promise true. 
New earth and heaven may ensue. 
And all the nations God may bless, 
And fill the earth with righteousness. 

Though man from God and honor fell, 
Again the Lord will with him dwell. 
Though men on earth the Savior slew, 
He here will dwell with them anew. 

For in his word this truth appears. 
He here shall reign a thousand years. 
Dear Savior come with kind relief, 
Let joy succeed this time of grief. 

On Sabbath, tbe 7th of June, at a sawmill by the rail- 
road in sight of camp, I preached to a well behaved audience. 
a number of whom were sharpshooters from the stockade. 



144 

This, to me, was encouraging and reviving to my feelings. 
I also attended prayer meeting that night with sharpshooters 
and was gratified to know that they met for prayer twice a 
week. 

I remained at Grlendale until the next Friday. The weath- 
er being disagreeable and changeable, I caught more cold 
and had a very distressing cough. There was thought to 
be no safety in those parts, and they were daily looking for 
an attack from the rebel forces that were lurking around. 

On Friday I returned to Corinth and expressed my views 
to Gen. Dodge, who approved of my plans, and said I would 
not be safe in going home to live under three years. When 
I was preparing to leave, the General proposed giving me 
charge of about sixty women and children, to be conveyed 
north ; but I asked to be excused, as I was poorly able to 
take care of myself I was so very unwell, that I had not a 
moment's rest, so that I could have had very little enjoy- 
ment with company. I felt as if disease was preying upon 
every part of my system. When I went on the cars my 
lungs were so sensative that I had to* keep my face below 
the windows, to avoid irritation from the action of the at- 
mosphere. The cough and misery in my chest appeared to 
denote confirmed consumption. 

On Saturday evening I arrived at Memphis, where I re- 
mained till Monday morning, when, from comfortable lodg- 
ing, change of diet, and a day's rest, my health was more 
improved than I had entertained the slightest hope of. 
While I was there, my host told me if I would write a letter 
and leave it with him, he thought he could send it to my 
people. This I did, hoping to give them and others the sat- 
isfaction of hearing from me and their friends. But this, 
also, I have learned wa's a failure. 

I then had to get a pass to Cairo, and a vast number be- 
ing there on the same business, I had to stand and wait so 
long, that when the object was obtained, my strength was 
exhausted, so that I had to sit down and rest on the floor 
for nearly an hour, to be able to proceed. Late in the after- 
noon went on boat, twenty-four days from the time I had 
left there for Corinth. While I was waiting for the boat 
to leave, two women took a fight on the river bank, opposite 
a boat crowded with soldiers, who raised a shout that could 
be heard '■'■far ^ far away J' 

As the boat was speeding its way over the rolling tide, 



145 

along its pathway of foam, sad was the reflection that I had 
turned my back again toward home, and those with whom I 
much desired to be, and the sentence often rose in my mind, 
"I am going the way whence I shall never return," and I 
felt as if it probably might be so, for my prospect for many 
days was cot at all flattering. On that night I took a dose 
of pills, which gave me so much relief that I was convinced 
that my liver was chiefly at fault. 

At Cairo I obtained medicine and went on the afternoon 
train to Villa Hidge, six miles from McMurrey's, to which 
place I had to go on foot, but was happy to be where I could 
sit and rest under a tree by the way without fear. I re- 
mained at McMurrey's some days for the improvement of 
my health, and preached for them on Sabbath ; but as it was 
a sickly place, and many of the people and some of the fam- 
ily where I was staying were taken sick, I thought it was 
time to get out of the way, and to seek a more healthful re- 
gion. 

As soldiers at Glendale requested me to inquire in the 
neighborhood of Anna and Jonesborough for their relatives, 
and if I found them to write to Glendale concerning them. I 
accordingly on the 23d of J.une found one of those refugees 
from Alabama, and lodged at Parson Hamilton's, near by. 
It being a rainy time, I remained there some days, and en- 
joyed christian like order, conversation and kind treatment. 

When the weatjier became more favorable, I went on my 
way, working on clocks occasionally, till I arrived on Satur- 
day evening at the house of Parson Morris, with whom I 
stopped and preached in his stead on Sabbath, at Limestone 
Church. And on Monday set off" again in better health than 
a short time before I had any hope of ever again enjoying, 
and on the 13th of July I arrived at Morgan's mill, where 
my son was at work, near Decatur, in Macon county, after an 
absence of three months. 



-13 



CHAPTER IX. 

TRAVELS AND OCCURRENCES IN THE NORTH. 

Though 1 was again among friends and acquaintances, 
mine was an unenviable lot : having no home, no certain abi- 
ding place nor employment, only as I could find it by wan- 
dering from place to place. I realized the truth of Solo- 
mon's words : "He that leaveth his place is like a bird that 
wandereth from its nest.'' The foxes had holes and the 
birds of the air had nests, but I had not where to lay my 
head ; and often had to be where my company was not de- 
sired, and in society that was very disagr eeable to me. 

After visiting some of the neighbors, I spent a short time 
in the neighborhood of Eastman's mill, where some of our 
company were working, and then started to Springfield to 
get some articles pertaining to my occupation, but was so 
nearly out of money that I feared I would have to turn back 
before reaching the place, but had the fortune to find work 
occasionally, that enabled me to go forward with my pur- 
pose, to the accomplishment of my object. 

From Springfield I went to a place, I think, called Pleas- 
ant Plains, and made arrangements for preaching there on 
Sabbath, and went forward with my business in the adjacent 
neighborhood ; and in this excursion passed the residence 
of the far famed Peter Cartright, whom I would gladly have 
seen, but passed without the sight. 

While working on a clock in this neighborhood, I was an- 
noyed by a woman's talk about the doings of the government, 
and people wishing to equalize themselves with negroes. 
She said others might equalize themselves with negroes if 
they chose, but she would never ; and held forth the idea 
that southern people had been wronged, and that the negroes 
should not have been meddled with. Although I had 



147 

learned, for the most part, to be quite modest and reserved, 
on this occasion my patience failed, and I remarked that it 
looked to me like an insult to common sense for anyone to 
pretend to vindicate the propriety of the course pursued by 
the southern people. And as to the people equalizing them- 
selves with the negroes, if they did not do it there to the 
lowest degree, and in the meanest sense of the word, I did 
not know where it was done. I told her something of the 
mixture of the races that existed there, and of slaves resem- 
bling their owners, in some cases being whiter ; and added 
that a period was coming when some of the down-trodden 
negroes would be raised as much above some of the noble 
white people, as they were then held below them. She said 
she did not believe it. Said I : "You do not believe the 
Bible.'' She said she did. I said I had seen negroes who 
had given satisfactory evidence that they were good chris- 
tians, and I supposed she would not deny that there were 
some bad ones among white people, and the Bible taught us 
that two characters and two places comprehended and were 
to contain the whole human family : the one prepared for 
the righteous, where tbey shall shine as the sun ; the other 
for the devil and his angels, where the wicked shall go into 
everlasting punishment and shame and contempt. The 
wicked, white and black, shall be abased in one 3 and the 
righteous white and black shall be exalted together in the 
other, unless there are two places for the different colors, of 
which the Bible gives no account. She intimated that she 
thought this would be the case. Said I, "If you will give 
your conscience fair play, and speak your honest convictions 
upon the subject, you will acknowledge you do not believe it." 

As she no longer did contend, 
This brought the subject to an end, 

In my travels I saw many things that betokened evil to 
the country, and darkened my prospects for the future, and 
lead me to fear that the days of evil would be many. On 
Sabbath morning, the common business of the week and top- 
ics of the time engrossed the conversation. Gathering black- 
berries, preserving those that were gathered, and strolling 
from house to house in the country, was the employment of 
many for the day. 

When I went to the plains I learned that my appointment 
had not been published, but knew not why, but understood 



148 

the people there were generally copperheads. I inquired for 
an agreeable place to stop at till Monday, and was happy to 
fall in with a family who were spending it in the good old 
way ; all in quietude and composure, with plenty of good 
books and religious papers to read and the old family Bible, 
the appearance of which and the place it occupied, gave evi- 
dence that it was one honored and highly esteemed in the 
family , and often applied to for instruction and council. Its 
instructions were heard at the fimily altar, at the time of 
the morning and evening sacrifice. 

To me this was a grateful treat, 
"With such I did too seldom meet, 
Such scenes of real and pure delight. 
Where kindred spirits all unite. 

Their wants and cares are open spread 
In view of Christ their common Head. 
And all their minds in union run, 
And their's and Christ's, and God's are one. 

After doing work round in that section a few days, I 
worked back to Mount Zion, where I attended church on 
Sabbath the 2d of August, with several dollars more than 
when I started to Springfield. My postoffice was at Deca- 
tur, where I received communications from Grlendale and 
the south part of Illinois, from correspondents, upon whom 
I depended for information from home. As I had received 
an intimation that my wife was talking of trying to come 
north, I kept the postoffice watched closely to get the first 
notice, if she should come, of her getting to the Union lines, 
so as to make the earliest possible arrangement for her trans- 
portation to some suitable place for the family. I would 
take a round now in one and then in another part of the 
country, and back to the ofiice, till, in this way, I had gone 
over a part of Macon, Dewitt, Moultrie and Piatt, and had 
seen most if not all of my friends from Mississippi. 

The first round was attended by some remarkable occur- 
rences. About the 8th of August, as I was stopping three 
nights in succession at the same place, one night I dreamed 
of a voice addressing me, as from one of my own family, 
which sounded as familiar as if I had been with them at 
home. The next night the word "Pa" was addressed to me, 
as if calling for me, or to attract attention, by a voice so 
plain and so fully recognized as the voice of one of my own 



149 

family, that I awoke ; and it appeared just as clear and dis- 
tinct in my mind, and remained, as if it had been a reality. 
During this round I sometimes had to travel late before I 
could get lodging. On the 12th, after traveling until late 
and without supper, I lodged among the hay in a barn, four 
or five miles north of Decatur. 

While thus I rested in the haj, 
Some moments sweetly passed away, 

Some pleasure true I there could find, 
As Bethlehem was brought to mind, 

When in a manger poor and mean, 
The Lord a stranger there was seen. 

With feelings quite composed and calm, 
I thought of him at Bethlehem, 

When he on earth began his race, 
He had his birth near such a place, 

And shepherds there by angels taught. 
The Savior found whom they had sought. 

And men of wisdom coming far; 
Were thither guided by a star. 

And to the infant Savior prayed. 
And precious gifts and offerings made. 

'Mong poor of men and meaner things. 
They thus beheld the King of Kings. 

If He who reigns in glory high, 

Such things could bear, how well may I. 

Nor think it shame or loss to me. 
To fare like one so great as He, 

Nor let one cross reproachful word. 
For things like these by me be heard, 

Nor ever think myself forgot. 
Because like his has been my lot. 

Nor think my grief exceeding sore. 
When His has been ten thousand more. 

Sin He endured and overcame. 
By grace secured I'll do the same. 

Let Him of earth and sky possessed, 
Do with his own what He sees best. 

May I submissive to Him bow. 
Nor prove unfaithful to my vow. 

*— 13 



150 

I continued my course of operations till the 12tli of Sep- 
tember, when I visited Decatur the last time and began to 
move eastward, having made enough to meet all demands 
against me and have a few greenbacks left. As I had rela- 
tions at Indianapolis whom I had resolved to visit if I could 
make enough by the way to clear my expenses, having vis- 
ited my friends and fellow refugees, as some thought for the 
last time in Illinois, and satisfied their claims against me, 
on the 18th of September I started from Anderson's in Piatt 
county, for Indianapolis, Ind., where I arrived on the 28th, 
and remained a short time with my kindred. There I heard 
of a cousin of mine living at Greencastle, Ind. I resolved 
to call upon him on my way to the south part of Illinois, 
where I had calculated to winter in a milder climate and 
nearer home, to which I hoped to return in the spring; but 
if not, provided the country and society suited I might have 
my funnily brought there. 

Having written lo my friends in Illinois, informing them 
or my designs, I left for Greencastle, where I arrived on 
the first of October, having a little more than made my ex- 
penses, People had so often been imposed upon by clock 
peddlers, as they generally called them, that they were 
afraid to risk a stranger any more, and many a clock showed 
that they had good reasons for being so. 

My cousin at Greencastle thought I could get plenty of 
employment about there for a length of time, and also that 
he could get me into other businesn that would be more pro- 
fitable, and I concluded to remain and see what could be 
done : so I set in to doing jobs where I could, returning 
frequently to the postoffice. 

As I became better acquainted my business became more 
profitable, and had it not been that I feared the winter and 
wished to go south, I perhaps might have done well in that 
country. My business took me into the families of people 
of every faith and order, religious and political. I heard 
their talk and saw their walk, and saw in their families what 
they were doing for society and for the hope of the country ; 
and though I was thus employed in the state from the 23d 
of September to the 25th of November, I do not remember 
to have witnessed family worship but in one family. In 
many families they neither asked the Lord's blessing nor re- 
turned thanks at their tables, though they were members of 
churches. I attended church every Sabbath but one, heard 



151 

some good sermons and preached twice during that time ; 
but this fell short of satisfying the inward desire. 

The country was divided into two parties: some were 
called abolitionists and some butternuts, and I understood 
the women fought about butternut breastpins, and that, too, 
if I am not mistaken, at church. I aimed to keep clear of 
political controversy, and as much as possible to live in peace 
with all men ; but sometimes I had to be crafty and evasive 
to do this, and then could not always succeed. I thought I 
could generally know a butternut at first sight by his coun- 
tenance, and did not often find myself mistaken, but often 
found them cross, disagreeable, fault-finding and frec[uently 
ignorant and unreasonable, (though sometimes wiser in heir 
own conceit than seven men who can give a reason,) and 
were not afraid to speak evil of dignities, but indulged in all 
manner of hard and evil speeches against that which was in- 
tended for the lawless and disobedient, and against rulers 
and those in authority, for a terror to evil doers. 

On one occasion I lodged with a man affected with this 
malady and Universalism, who professed to be more philan- 
thropic, beneficent and liberal, than those belonging to 
churches and professing to be religious; but when I paid 
this bill, it was just double the common charge ; while some 
of those whom he accused of being close-fisted, hypocritical, 
and giving visible signs of the devil within, had lodged me 
free of charge; for I found a number who were kind and 
generous hearted toward the stranger and unfortunate. 

In the same neighborhood, as I was after sunset passing 
for the last time through that section to Greencastle, a man 
overtook me who had previously invited me to his house to 
work on a clock, and had disappointed me. He again asked 
me to go on the same business. I asked if he was joking; 
he said he was not — his clock was stopped and he wanted it 
fixed, and wished me to go and do it. He said it would be 
an hour before he would be there, but I could lodge there 
and fix his clock, for he would be there in about an hour. I 
thought that would be preferable to going five or six miles 
after night. He then asked me to drink with him. 1 said 
I never used it except as medicine and on particular occa- 
sions. He said it was a particular occasion with him then, 
and he was going to have a dram. 

While he and another man were taking their dram, I went 
on, but began to feel suspicious that he would get too much 



152 

under the influence of bottle spirits for his house to be an 
agreeable lodging place. From this consideration, previous 
to going there, I went and saw another man in whom I had 
confidence, and asked his advice in the case. He said if the 
other had invited me to go, he thought it would all be right, 
so off I went to fix the man's clock, and notwithstanding I 
had been delayed a considerable length of time he had not 
got home ; and though I told my business and how I had 
been induced to go there, the woman appeared afraid to per- 
mit me to be about the house in his absence. I said if she 
feared any disagreeable consequences I would not stay. She 
asked if I could not lodge in the neighborhood and fix the 
clock the next day. I said if I did not do it that night I 
should not do it at all, for I had intended being at Green- 
castle that night, and to leave the state as soon as I could 
arrange my business for leaving, and if I did not stay there 
I would go to Greencastle that night. She did not know 
where her husband was, nor when he expected to be home. 
When I described a horse that I had seen at a certain place, 
she said it was his, and that he staid there more than he did 
at home, but she thought if he wanted me to fix ''he clock, 
if I would go there he would return with me. I went and 
found him drunk; and not understanding my statements, he 
showed a disposition to be cross. I said if there was any 
danr^er of a misunderstanding between us, I preferred going 
on my way. He said all would be right, go and fix the 
clock, and started with me in a hurry. 

He said after starting, "You must look over this, I am 
drinking. Won't you V I replied, "If there is none to 
whom you are under no higher obligations than you are to 
me, you need not trouble yourself about it. 

After going a little farther, said he : "I want you to tell 
me candidly how you stand with the administration." Said 
I, "In what respect ? You must explan yourself." "Are 
you in favor of Lincoln's administration ?" Said I : "We 
had better get your clock fixed, and defer that to another 
time." "I want you to tell me just now if you are in favor 
of Lincoln's administration I have no use for you." Said I : 
"I don't know that I have a right to find much fault with 
the old man." He repeated the question at different times, 
without getting anything more definite upon the subject. 
When we got to the house he ordered his wife to prepare 
supper, but could not forget his questions. I tried to get 



153 

his consent to dismiss the subject until better prepared for 
profitable conversation, but did not succeed. "What do you 
think about the negro ?" said he " What about the negro," 
said I. "Do you think he ought to be free ?" "I have 
thought that so soon as they were in a condition to be free, 
so as to promote the interests of both races, it might be well 
enough to let them be free," was my reply. "Do you think 
a negro is as good as you are ?" came next. I said I sup- 
posed some were, and some were not. He added very em- 
phatically and contemptuously: "Jes, I know you are no 
better than a negro, and I will treat you like a negro." I said 
I expected to treat him with civility, whether he was wor- 
thy of it or not. Said he : "Yes, you shall do it, but I will 
treat you like a nigger. You sha'n't stay in my house to- 
night. Do you think I would let a man who is no better 
than a nigger sleep in the house with my family ? No! you 
shall not sleep under my roof. You may fix the clock but 
you sha'n't stay here." I rose, took my cloak, not thinking 
of my saddle bags, and said to him, " I shall not ask you to 
stay." He continued to repeat his assertion. I replied: "I 
have told you I shall not ask you to stay ; but I have stayed 
in many a better man's house." He rose, raised his chair, 
as if he was going to strike me, and said : "Say that agiin, 
and I will knock you down." Said I : "Once is enough." 
He ordered me to get out of his house, and followed me, 
saying, if I did not go faster he would hit me. 

I went with a regular step till I had got outside of the 
yard gate to my beast, without paying any attention to him, 
he all the time threatening me if I did not go faster 
and then ordered me to get on my horse ajid clear out. I 
did not still obey, but walked some distance to an outside 
gate, where, turning to my horse, I saw my saddlebags were 
missing, and went back to the yard fence. He was then 
talking at a loud and rapid rate to his wife, but hearing my 
voice he came to the door and asked what was wanted. Be- 
ing told he brought the saddlebags to the door, slung them 
over the fence and whirled suddenly back into the house. 

T then went to Greencastle, and just as I had stabled my 
horse the town clock struck twelve. I then had near or 
quite a half a mile to walk to my boarding house, often 
thinking of the man who had caused me to be out so late. 

A demon drunk, and maddened fool, 
To what a hight would he arrive, 



154 

O'er angels, God and men would rule, 
And all as filthy from him drive. 

The Indiana copperhead, 

He drove me from his home by night, 
For I to him had something said. 

That did not suit a drunkard quite. 

How like the devil he did look. 
In that to which he did pretend. 

When he 'gainst Michael undertook 
For corpse of Moses to contend. 

As Michael pure? Indeed not I, 
Nor ever thus myself could see ; 

Nor quite like his was mj reply. 
Yet strictly true as words can be. 

If true, the charge against him brought, 
And justly we him devilish call. 

How humbling then must be the thought, 
The same is true against us all. 

How gladly all to Christ should go, 
Their every sin and want confess, 

Rejoicing much this truth to know, 
In him is life and righteousness, 

But for a dying Savior's love. 
The Spirit's renovating grace, 

"We could not dwell with God above, 
And there in peace behold his face. 

I would myself to Him submit. 
And in His sovereign grace confine, 

Me for His service well to fit. 
And in the way of duty guide. 

May He himself to me reveal, 
As from the shining seats above, 

And make ray inmost spirit feel. 
The strength of never dying love. 

That hath all human knowledge passed. 
That gave the anxious spirits rest, 

And all their fears far from them cast. 
With joy too full to be expressed. 

How I could then for sinners pray, 

And show backsliders what they need. 

And to transgressors teach the way, 
And anxious souls to Jesus lead. 



155 

And all that I from God receive, 

As means of good through faith employ, 

That many sinners may believe, 
And have an endless life of joy. 

In tliis land of plenty, often while participating at a well 
furnislied table, I thought of my family and how differently 
they might be faring, and possibly suffering for some of the 
commonest comforts of life. But as my feeling were fre- 
quently and deeply harrowed in this way, I received a letter 
by two of my daughters at home, giving the comforting in- 
formation that the family was well, and getting along as well 
as could be expected under existing circumstances. This 
news was so refreshing that for most one night — 

Sweet sleep, unmindful of her charge, 
Left thought to wander much at large. 

Having obtained an outfit for the winter, on the 24th of 
November, facing a cold and violent wind, I left for Tcr- 
rehaute, through which I passed the next day through a 
multitude of wagons loaded with wood and provisions for 
the soldiers^ wives. 

While bright and starry, striped clouds. 
Were gayly floating in the air, 
Which seemed to say that all was right. 
The walks were lined with eager crowds, 
The cheering, welcome scene to share. 
With tokens true of great delight. 

The following night I lodged in Clark county, 111., with a 
good old Scotchman, who could afford to have a family altar 
illumined with a lamp for the feet and a light to the path in 
a home sanctuary. 

*From which the daily offerings rise, 

With rich perfume of odors sweet, 
Beyond the vail, above the skies. 

Before the throne and mercy seat. 



With such the Lord delights to meet, 
With sight restored gives them to see, 
The things that make their joy complete. 

While at this house I read some in a book written by a 

Rev. V, 8. 



156 

refugee from South Carolina. His description of things 
there corresponded so well with what I had witnessed in 
other places, that I thought it would be well for something 
of the kind to be put out by one from another part of the 
south, bearing witness to facts with regard to things there 
that should be known in the north. I thought that when I 
would get to the south part of the state, I would set in to 
prepare such a work ; and hoped thereby to have access to 
the people, so as to affect more good than I could in any 
other way, for as things had been, my time appeared to be 
spent almost in vain, so far as affecting any moral good to 
others was concerned, which had been a source of disquie- 
tude to me during most of my time in the north. 

Friday, the 27th being rainy and disagreeable, in the af- 
ternoon I inquired along the road for work, and found a man 
who gave me a job on a clock. In his countenance I read a 
good deal that did not afford a flattering prospect for a pleas- 
ant time, and his words and manners proved to be of a 
rough and disagreeable kind, and much qualified with pro- 
fane language, the tasty finish of modern style ; but by be- 
ing dexterously evasive, and making every start of conver- 
sation toward an unwelcome subject, to be an occasion to be 
reminded of, and to introduce something interesting and 
amusing, I thereby succeeded in diverting and chasing the 
disagreeable and annoying subject of politics mostly out of 
sight, till I had the clock ready for trial and placed it on my 
knee. When the family were eagerly looking on and the 
clock commenced ticking, I gravely said : — 



Time is passing, shortly you must go. 

I thought this perhaps was a lucky hit, for I heard no 
more bad language that I recollect of from that man. 

Whether this had anything to do with the matter or not, 
things passed smoothly on, and when the clock was finished 
and another was brought, which was not finished until the 
next morning, and when it was discharged another was 
brought forward. This suited the time very well, for the 
morning was snowy and very cold. 

When the work was finished the landlord paid the charge 
like a gentleman, and appeared to feel an interest in giving 
me all the information he could with regard to the road. 



157 

I set out again tlirough the wind and snow, over freezing 
mud and ice, and (50on got into the prairie, where I could 
hardly keep warm walking in a double suit of clothes, and 
b^ fore night the ice would bear a horse, so that I. progressed 
slowly ; and late in the evening I learned that I would have 
to lodge with Germans, who were Roman Catholics, which 
was contrary to my wishes. After night I got to a place of 
lodging in Titopolis, where I remained over Sabbath and 
was kindly treated. 

The house was well furnished with pictures of the Savior, 
his mother, saints and crosses^ which to me was quite im- 
pressive. As they could not talk much English, I had a 
good opportunity for reading and reflection, without much 
interruption. I also attended church, — the first and only 
time I was ever in one of the kind, and thought it was 
wisely ordained, though contrary to my v/ishes, that I should 
stop at that place, where with my own eyes and ears I wit- 
nessed a confirmation of that which I had read, heard and 
seen representations of. 

Though the day was so cold that water would freeze on a 
person's hair before he could walk ten steps, yet they had 
no fire in the church except the candles that were burn- 
ing round the altar. And although I heard two discourses 
from one person in all, it was in an unknown tongue to 
me. I saw them applying holy water, and performing 
many signs and bodily exercises } facing about, bowing, 
kneeling, making the sign of the cross, and many such 
like things they did. 1 saw many pictures, images 
and representations of which I cannot now speak particularly. 
I beheld until I thought I was cold enough to leave, and 
did so, not knowing that the priests were going to take the 
sacrament that day, which I would willingly have witnessed 
for once. 

When I returned from church the lady, who had re- 
mained at home, informed me that enduring the cold at 
church was a part of their religion ; that the priests fre- 
quently went bareheaded in cold weather, and that some of 
the people occasionally walked barefoot to their graveyard 
and back before sunrise. I said they had relatives buried 
there, I supposed. She said. Yes. I understood it all as I 
had long ago been informed, with regard to such practices. 
While in this family, the remarkable contrast between the 
features and complexion of the oldest and the other children 
—14 



158 

of the family, reminded me of some of Maria Monk's awful 
disclosures concerning the sanctification of brides by priests. 

From this man (who, as I supposed, had his information 
and notions of political policy from the intelligent priests), 
I learned that they thought that a republican form of gov- 
ernment would not do, and that they were not in ftivor of the 
northern and southern states being united under the old gov- 
ernment. They also had the understanding that the French 
had no design to meddle with American affairs while they 
remained divided, but would not suffer them to be united if 
they could prevent it. 

On the 7th of December I arrived at Parson Hamilton's, 
in the section of country where I had intended to winter. 
There I spent some time among acquaintances and" working 
on clocks, and getting information with regard to wages and 
work of various kinds. Having improved much in health, 
and being tired of wandering continually from place to place, 
I made arrangements for boarding, bought food for winter- 
ing my horse, and went to cutting wood. I also made some 
arrangements for engaging in the present work. 

I began chopping in large timber, but being out of prac- 
tice I soon began to fail and had to quit the business. I 
then started out afoot, at my previous occupation, and on 
the last day of the old year I faced the snow storm in which 
I was caught some distance from my boarding, and began 
the new year wandering in the snow among the Jackson 
county hills, from which I began to make back toward my 
boarding place, in Union county, where I arrived in the 
night on Friday the 2d of January, 1864, and met with my 
son and nephew, who had come to spend the winter in that 
country. 

The weather being severe and my health poor, perhaps 
from previous exposure, I spent most of my time within 
doors, with friends, sometimes working at my trade and 
sometimes reviewing English grammar, preparatory to com- 
mencing to write my intended work, but my health was 
such that I was unfit for much of anything. 

On the 12th, having seated myself to begin my intended 
writing, the following letter was put into my hands, written 
by a nephew, at Camp Davis, January 4th, 1854 : 

"Dear Uncle: — I suppose you will be somewhat sur- 
prised to hear of me at this place. I came here on New 



159 

Year's day, and it will be one month to-night since I left 
home last. I started four times before I quite made the 
trip. 

Our folks are enjoying good health at present. There 
has been a good deal of sickness since you left home, and a 
good many deaths. Last fall was a year ago, fever was in 
almost every family of the neighborhood, and, with few ex- 
ceptions, death has taken one out of the families; though I 
suppose you have had news from home, before this time, by 
Mr. Wm. R . 

My father died early in the fall, and all the rest of the 
family were sick. We have all been afflicted by our Heaven- 
ly Father, yet not as much as we deserved. I have gone 
through many changes since I saw you last, yet all I ask is 
that I may receive grace to improve my greatest afflictions, 
and to be enabled to glorify my Heavenly Father, through 
all my race on earth. 

I am at last separated from my home and friends, in a 
world of temptation and sin. As I said before, this is the 
fourth time I have tried to get away from the Confederacy. 
I last left home about a month ago, intending to go north 
and not join the army, but when I came here they would 
not let me go north, and it was left to my choice whether I 
would join the army or go back home; and after some con- 
sideration and twice being taken up by the provost, I con- 
cluded to join the cavalry, although it was much against my 
will ; but I could not think of going back to be chased with 
dogs. I made a narrow escape from them, and rather than 
bait them again I will keep out of their way. 

Cousin Byington came with me, as he is seventeen years 
old ; for in Missisippi they are taking folks at seventeen. 
As he is not eighteen he has not voluntered, but he has not 
got any employment yet, and it is rather a bad place here 
for working, and it is possible he can stay here until he can 
get some advice from you. He would like to be with the 
rest of you, but it may be too cold there for him this win- 
ter. There was plenty of corn made in our neighborhood 
last year, and they are now very comfortably circumstanced. 

Aunt Margaret requested me to tell you that she is doing 
very well, and is satisfied that you are out of the way of the 
Confederacy. I have some messages for the others of you 
from their friends at home. They would like to see you 
again, but do not wish you to be in as dangerous a place as 
the Confederacy. 



IGO 

As for going home, you need not think of that yet, unless 
you want to try the woods and dogs It is far worse than 
when you left home, but I cannot tell you everything now. 

I wish I could see you all, and you don't know how glad 
I would be to be with my friends, for I have seen a good 
many people since I left home, cuid but two or three that 
were not profane. 

I still remain your affectionate nephew, 

W. J. F. 

A response to this I had mailed the next day, and on the 
Sabbath following I preached in the neighborhood where my 
son and nephev," were employed in Jackson county. There 
and at two other places, until the 17th of April, 1864, I 
preached at regular monthly appointments, for which I re- 
ceived no reward from men only my board when attending 
my appointments ] though I was expected to do many deeds 
of charity for the widows, who were numerous in that coun- 
try. 

The following was received on the 28th of January, 
1864: 

Camp Davis, Jan. 11, 1864. 
1st Ala. Cav., Co. A. 

But to say something about home I suppose would 

be most interesting to you. Indeed, I might say a good 
deal that would interest you, if T had time, and was not 
bothered with people talking around me. 

As I said before, the people are enjoying at present very 
good health, and there was plenty of corn raised last year to 
do them, if they can get to keep it; but if things keep on 
as they have been doing, it will be very uncertain about 
that. In xVlabama they have threatened to burn all that 
belonged to those whose people had left Dixie ; but it is 
probable that they only wish to scare the Union people, as 
they have often tried to do before. 

A few weeks before I left home, the cavalry was search- 
ing for you all : they had their dogs and they searched in 
the barns and houses all about, but they did not go through 
all the neighborhood. I hxy out in the woods myself, to 
keep out of their way. The people that I have been with 
since I left home, had become just about as wild as deer. 
When they heard dogs barking, they would listen as closely 
as if their lives were in great danger, and even when I was 



161 

at home, I did gpt a little that way myself, and was ab 
sent from meeting several times on that account, as the cav- 
alry had sometimes molested people at such places. They 
came to see me twice. 

The people in our country have got to making spinning 
and weaving theh' chief employment. There can scarcely 
he anything bought at Columbus now. 

It may be you have not heard of all the deaths that have 
taken place during the last year. I will give you their 
names, though I cannot recollect the time exactly, but will 
give them as they took place : 

Cousin Wm. L. L., cousin N. A. Feemster, father, aunt 
P. R., cousin M. D. F., cousin B. F. Mrs. S. G., Mrs. M. 
And in several of the families, there was not one escaped be- 
ing sick. Yet notwithstanding our afflictions seem to have 
been great, they were no doubt light in comparison with 
what we deserved, and it may be hoped that they were not 
without a good effect. And, added to all these, I am now 
separated from my home, and many of those whose compa- 
ny I delighted to have, and am placed in a world of sin and 
temptation ; yet there is a friend who is both able and wil- 
ling to protect those who put their trust in him. It is surely 
then my duty, as well as my privilege, to own him as my 
friend; and it is often surprising to me how little I feel in- 
clined to love and trust in him. The army is rather an un- 
suitable place to be in. There does not appear to be any 
thought abou.t religion ) there is, indeed, some that appear 
more civil than others — and it is a place where one has not 
the opportunity of keeping the Sabbath as he would at home. 

Cousin Jasper has been at home since last summer. He 
was taken prisoner at Yicksburg, and is paroled. He is tol- 
eraqly well now. Luther Love was at home when I left, 
though he may be taken up before this tmie, as they have 
got to taking persons from seventeen since I left home. I 
left about a month before Byington did. 

But I must bring my letter to a close. 

W. J. Feemster. 

As I had spent most of my wagee for clothing, medicine, 
boarding and traveling, and did a good deal of work for 
which I received no pay, I found it necessary to keep at 
business in order to have some thing to go on; so that I had 
almost abandoned my purpose of writing altogether. 

In my employment, I traveled over a considerable part of 
*— 14 



162 

Union, Jackson and Williamson counties, and back to the 
Mississippi river -, but had to arrange my business so as to 
be in reach of my regular appointments. Much of the 
country was very rough and broken, abounding with lofty 
hills and deep ravines, huge rocks and frightful precipices ; 
subterraneous caves, and coverts beneath projecting rocks, 
along rocky branches, hillsides and holloAvs, down which the 
waters rush and pour with rapid flow, and rattle, foam and 
roar among the rocks below. While in this region I had a 
call to the J^ald Knob. Ascending this, I walked and lead 
my beast, and rested three times before we gained the top, 
from which to the south-west is to be seen the water in the 
Mississippi river, said to be ten miles distant. To the south, 
Jonesborongh, and other places at a distance, are in plain 
view; and white houses and farms are seen on the distant 
hills to the east, beyond the railroad, and farms, and dwell- 
ings, and sugar camps scattered, and out of view along the 
hills and creeks between and far below. I had the under- 
standing that many deserters had been harbored in this re- 
gion. I had the spring before, seen the blue coats stationed 
at Jonesborongh, and a citizen of South Pass, it w-i.as said, 
was killed by a deserter. This country, (Southern llinois) 
I understood bore the name of Egypt, and though there was 
a number of intelligent and worthy people in that country, 
I was surprised to find so many that could not read, and so 
many that could, who were so shamefully and criminally ig- 
norant. If I was not mistaken — and I had a tolerably fair 
chance to know — these were generally what were called 
Copperheads, and were exceedingly mad against Lincoln, 
charging him with being the author of the war with all the 
consequent calamities, and with doing it to free the negroes, 
and that in violation of the constitution, &c.; while many of 
them did not know the difference between the constitution 
of the United States and the declaration of independence; 
and some did not know the diiference between a score and a 
century Some could neither read, write, nor tell how to 
spell their own names; and though some of them could not 
furnish feed for a horse, nor a decent bed to sleep in, yet it 
was quite insulting to their superior dignity to think of being- 
equalized with a negro. 

I was not only annoyed, but often amused to see people so 
much like foolish beasts, scaring at their own tracks and 
shadows, and frightened at and running from a noise that 
proceeds from themselves. 

On one occasion while I was employed in Williamson 



163 

county, (a place notorious for Copperlieacls and outrage) an 
old woman where I was at work, was full of distressing 
news concerning the war, drafting, the soldiers, negroes, &c. 
She had h card that the northern soldiers thought more of 
the negroes than they did of the whites, and a great many 
of them had taken black women back with them for wives. 
This, she appeared disposed to think might be true. A cen- 
tury being mentioned she asked what that was; and again, I 
think, asked if it was three-score. 

Some of these southern counties abound with refugees, so 
that almost every old cabin, though not equal to a good sta- 
ble, had people crowded into it to get out of the weather; 
and much was said against and disrespectfully of the refu- 
gees, and perhaps not without some good reason for it, and 
no doubt if they had all received their just recompense, 
some would have met the doom of the spy and the traitor. 
Though my opinion, founded upon evidence from observa- 
tion, was, that those who talked most against them were not 
vinfriendly to this class, the true reason of their disrespect 
being, that refugees, generally, were in for supporting the 
government, and were rapidly increasing the vote in that 
way, I so often heard them spoken of as a lazy, poor, heart- 
less set of people, that I sometimes would make some apolo- 
gy for them, in view of their unfavorable and disheartening 
circumstances. 

I had been so long and so much annoyed with contempti- 
ble theories, frivolous proofs and pretexts for absurd doctrine 
and unjustifiable practices, that I had taken to practicing a 
sort of retaliation for my own amusement. x\s tobacco af- 
fords pleasure to the acquired taste, so, there are other like 
things by a long association with which, we can some time 
derive pleasure from that which is contrary to our nature. 

Has Copperhads become so strong, 

Through all Egyptian wilds so soon; 
So much have sung the negro song, 

That every snake has learned the tune? 
For which they can refrain from sleep. 

It gives to them so much delight, 
As into secret dens they creep, 

Where late is heard the song at night. 

On a certain night, after a lady had said the refugees were 
doing no good, for themselves, said I, "perhaps they are like 
hogs. You know that in a plentiful year, when they are in 



164 

good order, and can find plenty to subsist upon, they are live- 
ly and in industrious, and are up and stirring early 
But when a scarce time comes, and they get poor and weak, 
they loose heart, give up, and lie about making little or no 
effort to obtain anything. Such may be the case with the 
refugees, who, having lost everything, have no heart to try 
to make anything more. Some who were present said they 
thought such a fortune would have that effect upon them. 

Next morning, the old lady spoke against the refugees 
again, and when she had said a good deal for their discredit, 
said I, "I suppose I may take this all to myself, for I am a 
refugee ?" She made the apology that she did not intend 
what she had said for all. 

She then changed the subject to that of the insufferable 
wrong of making the negro equal with the white people. 
This had become a favorite subject with me for the mortifi- 
cation of foolish pride, though I had no occasion to intro- 
duce it myself, but sometimes, when introduced by others, 
was almost impolitely fond of it. I remarked that it ap- 
peared quite natural to us all to think and feel that we were 
better than a negro, but it was not so easy a matter to prove 
that it was so. She at first did not appear to think it hard 
to prove that they were an inferior and degraded race, and 
asked why it was that they were black ? I said that was one 
thing we had never been told. He who made of one blood 
all nations to dwell upon the earth, saw fit to make different 
colors, but had not told us why, and if he esteemed one 
color above, or as preferable to, another, he had not told us 
which it was. How, then, could we find it out. She said 
black was a degraded color. I said we did not generally 
think so, but commonly were very fond of a nice suit of 
clothes, and expected then she would like to have a nice 
black dress, and would feel quite saucy. She (apparently 
losing sight of the subject) readily agreed that she would. 
Then, said I, the negro has the advantage, and is that much 
our superior. He has, by nature, what we have to get by 
art, and are proud to own as an artificial ornament. She 
then saw that she had beaten herself. 

Some denied that a negro had a soul ; others contended 
that they were an inferior race, andwere made to be 
servants for white people, and that they were better off in 
that condition than they would be in any other. Some who 
could not read, said they had heard it read in the Old Tes- 



165 

tauient that Cain liad a mark put upon liim, and tliey thought 
that was the color of the negro; for it was said that his 
seed should be servants upon servants, and they would 
bet me a treat that what they had said was in the old Bible 
somewhere. 

I some times amused myself by asking some of those who 
had so much contempt for the thick liped, flat nosed, woolly 
headed negro, to tell wherein they were beetter than a ne- 
gro. (They could not deny that many of them were more 
stout and active than most of the white people, could do as 
much or more work ; many showed as much aptness and in- 
genuity to learn when they had an equal chance as the 
whites.) This they could not easily do, yet it would have 
been quite an insulting and ungentlemanly thing to have 
told them that they were no better than a negro, though 
some of them had no more education or intelligence, nor 
any better morals, nor even as good, as amajority of negroes 
in America. Yet they could not bear to be put on an equal- 
ity with the negro ] from which it would appear that they 
were no friends to progress and improvement ; for to place 
them upon an average equality with American negroes, 
would raise them considerably in the scale of refinement, for 
a vast number of negroes are greatly their superiors in every- 
thing except features and color; and som.e in bondage and 
called negroes would excel them in these. 

I was often shocked and distressed to see the degree of 
impudence, profanity and wickedness that prevailed among 
children or boys. On one occasion, in particular, at Anna 
Station, I saw a company of boys employed in exhibiting a 
scene, as I thought, of worse conduct than I had ever wit- 
nessed among as man} of the most degraded negroes, that I 
had ever seen in the south, who had received the impress of 
the iron furnace of southern oppression. Surely, the pa- 
rents of such offspring are guilty of preparing the earth for 
a curse, and are sowing the seeds of calamity and destruc- 
tion to the country. 

Children left to themselves, are taught to profane the Sab- 
bath, using profane language, speaking evil of dignitaries, 
despising government, &c., were so prevalent that they cast 
a fearful gloom over the prospect of the future. So common 
were Ruch things that when I fell in at a house of good mor- 
als and good family government, it was like the pleasant calm 
after a storm, and a little paradise in a wilderness of woe. 
These things are not confined to Egypt, 



166 

I continued in that country until after the middle of 
April. My son and nephew previous to this had gone back 
to Macon county, and I was tired of my wandering manner 
of living, and having heard that good wages were given on 
the praries, for farming as I thought probably I was able to 
follow that business, I resolved to go north and do so, if 
I could be suited. 

About the 13th of April I wrote the Egpytian Son at the 
house of Parson Hamilton, where I spent many a pleasant 
season in the good old religious way, which I still remember 
with satisfaction. On the 17th I preached at two houses 
my last sermons in Egpyt; and on the 19th, started north, 
after having labored in that region from the 5th of Decem- 
ber to that time. 

It was always a satisfaction to me to fall in with people 
who appeared to be religious and true to the government : 
but sometimes I fared worse with them than with those who 
made no particular pretensions to either. For example : 
On my way north, I lodged with a man not far from Mount 
Vernon, who made tall pretensions to respect for the present 
administration, and made quite a show of religion in his 
family. He, as did the shipmen with Jonah, asked me with 
regard to whence I came, my country, people, &c., and pro- 
fessed great sympathy for people in my condition. 

Next morning, as it was rainy, and I saw two dumb clocks 
in the house, I said it looked like I had stopped at the right 
place, as I did not wish to travel in the rain, and it looked 
like the clocks needed something done for them, and repair- 
ing clocks was my occupation. He said if I could do it he 
would like to have me put one in order. I went at it and 
found a job that kept me till about noon, and when it was 
finished another was presented for repair, and when it was 
done a third was brought, and when it was through with, the 
day was nearly spent and I remained till next morning. I 
ate no dinner, and my horse was unwell and did not eat 
much. When about to leave I asked how matters stood be- 
tween us ? He said, that was for me to say, in part ; and 
asked what I was going to charge him. I felt a little at a 
loss to know what would be right. He said his charge was 
three dollars. I said I supposed he professed to be a scrip- 
ture abiding man, and if he wanted to do as he would wish 
to be done by, I would try to be satisfied. He gave me his 
hand, as I understood, in token that we were even. At the 



167 

prices then, what I had done would not have been less than 
four dollars. 

As I went on toward Salem, where I expected to attend 
church on Sabbath. I stopped at a house to get out of the 
rain, when I fell in with a book agent, who was soliciting 
orders for Dr. Grunn's Home Book of Health. As he lived 
at Salem, and it was an unfavorable time for canvassing, he 
started to accompany me to that place. But we were de- 
tained by high water till Monday. In the meantime he used 
his influence to get me to buy a book and to become an agent, 
representing it as a business at which I could do well. 

After some reflection upon the subject, I thought that oc- 
cupation, in connection with the one I had, might enable me 
to get along better. I had some doubts of my ability to do 
well on a farm. It was getting late in the season, and peo- 
ple had generally got their engagements made for farming. 
But I went on to Kinmundy, intending if not better suited 
in business about there, to return and take an agency. I re- 
mained in that section of country about two weeks, during 
which I wrote some poems ; some at the suggestion of some 
of my fellow refugees from Alabama, who, like myself, had 
left wife and children in a far distant land. 

I again returned to Salem, and after making the necessa- 
ry arrangements for canvassing for Gunn's work in Edgar 
county, with the privilege of following my previous occupa- 
tion, when to my interest to do so. 

I went to the allotted field of operation in Kansas town- 
ship, where, after getting my horse on pasture, on the 24th 
of May I pursued my occupation under unfavorable and dis- 
couraging circumstances. People were much divided on 
politics, and were full of jealousy and unkind feeling toward 
one another, and were calling each other abolitionists and 
Lincoln hirelings: copperheads, butternuts and traitors. 
There had been a riot at Charleston, on the wes^, and at 
Paris, on the east, and each party had their own story about 
the matter, which cast the blame on their opposers, and 
many threats were making, and fears were entertained by 
many of serious outrage and violence ; and if I was capable 
of judging correctly some went to extremes on both sides, 
and indulged in unjustifiable speeches and charges against 
others for that of which they were not guilty, though there 
were some on both sides who were little better than the 
worst charges called for ; for there were some on both sides 



168 

"who were no honor to any civil society or good cause ; and 
while each were criminating, and laying the blame of all 
our troubles and calamities on the othe,r to my sorrow the 
honest conviction of my own mind was, that many, if not 
the majority, of both parties, were acting the part of deadly 
foes to the country. Because the love of (Jod is not in 
them, His fear is not before their eyes ; He is not in their 
thoughts, the way of peace (with Him) they have not known. 
They desire not the knowledge of His ways, (if not in their 
hearts, by their actions.) They have said, "What is the 
Lord that we should fear Him ? Who is the Almighty, 
that we should obey Him ?" They have spoken perverse 
things. Too many have done abominable wickedness. They 
set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue walketh 
through the earth. The show of their countenance witness- 
eth against them. They declare their sin as Sodom ; they 
hide it not. Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way 
of Cain, and run greedily after the error of Balaam for re- 
ward- Many despise government ; presumptuous are they, 
self-willed, not afraid to speak evil of dignities, and of 
things they understand not ; many of whom perish in their 
own corruption. Many have hearts exercised with covetous 
practices. Some grind the face of the poor, oppress the 
fatherless and widow, and mistreat the stranger. Cursed 
children, who have forsaken the right way, going astray 
from the old way, wandering in forbidden paths according 
to the course of this world ; lead captive by the wicked one 
at his will, under the influenne of the prince of the power of 
the air, the spirit that now rules in the hearts of the chil- 
dren of disobedience, and loads to the practice of that on 
account of which the wrath and judgments of God cometh 
upon them. How the precious of the earth, comparable 
with fine gold, are mixed with the vile. The fine gold had 
become dim; the silver dross, and the wine mixed with wa- 
ter; and, instead of humility, meekness and lowliness of 
heart and contrition of spirit, is impenitence, haughtiness 
and spiritual wickedness in high places, and much devotion 
to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of 
life. 

And thoso characters abound in consequence of which we 
are told that perilous times are to be in the latter days, a de- 
scriptive catalogue of vrhich is given in the III of 2 Tim., 
whose moral influence is like the malignant blast, and rank 



169 

with the pestiieiitiai effluvium of putrefaction, disease and 
death swept from the sepulchral shades. 

I was watched with a suspicious eye by both parties ; 
sometimes treated kindly and sometimes with coldness and 
indilference by both : and sometimes rudely and contempti- 
bly, having repro.chful insinuations cast upon me. I met 
with some called copperheads, who treated me in the kind- 
est and most generous mnn"^*. ^ a.yxl co c^f tix^:/oo oaiicJ aXi^j- 
lltionists. 

About the 25th of June I wrote for about as many books 
as I expected to receive orders for by the 1st of July, but 
wheat harvest coming on, I could get but few more orders ; 
and, as hands were wanted in harvest, I went at that, but 
was not able for the business, but quit and repaired on 
clocks till the books came on. As I was a stranger, and it 
was a time of deception and suspicion, when people were de- 
ceiving and being deceived, I could get no means of distrib- 
uting but on foot and horseback. This was a hard way for 
a weakly man to make his was through the world. 

In this way I delivered to subscribers in two townships, 
and before I got through, riding, exposed to the sun, had so 
injured my health, that I had to rest part of the day, to be 
able to travel the remainder. Owing to failures on the part 
of subscribers, I had a considerable lot of books left on 
hands, and had to apply for new territory to canvass in. 

It was now the middle of July, and people were still busy 
with their wheat and hay, and it was an unfavorable time 
for canvassing. I was in poor health and much dissatisfied 
with the way my life was passing, and determined that when 
the books were disposed of, I would write a pamphlet, which 
I thought would be done in a few weeks, and then I would 
travel, lecture and distribute ; and perhaps in that way I 
might aifect some good in the world, and I again went to 
work on clocks, and to get subscribers in Embarrass and 
Buck townships for my unsold books. There I was some- 
i times working at clocks, sometimes getting subscriptions, 
and sometimes visiting till the first week in September, and 
still had not obtained subscribers for all the books. 

On the 15th of September, after delivering the books sub- 
scribed for, I commenced the long contemplated work. 



—15 



CHAPTER X. 

INCIDENTS OE TRAVEL IN GRANDVIEW, KANSAS AND BUCK 

TOWNSHIPS SOME OF THE CONCOMITANTS 

OF MY SOJOURN IN EDGAR. 

During my travels in Grand View and Kansas I was 
twice invited or ordered to go out of -people's houses. Twice 
in one neighborhood, I received very abusive language from 
persons who were perhaps twenty or thirty years my juniors. 
Each threatened me with a dreadful beating, and exhibited 
their fists. One cursed shamefully : both called me an old 
liar. They could say all manner of evil against me, but I 
must say nothing against them. No ! not the truth. With 
them brute force was preferable to logic for the decision of 
moral differences. 

Now by what rule do such proceed ? 
First inward force the rugged gag, 
And then accuse, condemn and brag. 

When none can dare oppose the deed. 

Though copper called and abolish, 
They both, I thought, were lamperfish ; 
Nor dove nor lamb could in them find, 
But much, I thought, of serpent kind. 
Now do you ask what is each name ? 
I here can tell what is the same: 
That of a coat made for a chill, 
And of a man who keeps a mill, 
*They gave the martyr's name to one, 
fThe other Jacob's youngest son. 
How well they use their mortal tongue ! 
Their acts, how manly, noble, brave, 



*S. Mille, fB. Chilcote. 



171 

For men so healthy, stout and young, 
With one then blooming for the grave. 
They little think in all their boast, 
Presumptuous, vain and self conceit. 
They soon to death must yield the ghost, 
And all their deeds in judgment meet. 
Their crimes of every time and place, 
All rise and stare them in the face. 

Not many miles from the residence of these men, I once 
attended meeting among a class of people who appeared to 
have a great dread of negro equality, but I had no recollec- 
tion of ever having witnessed half as much shamefully bad 
conduct in a congregation of southern negroes; for they 
knew how. and did behave themselves with much more de- 
cency and civility; and to equalize these people with those 
negroes in this respect, would elevate them to a much more 
respectable and worthy degree of decency and refinement of 
manners. And, if I was not mistaken, I had seen negroes 
who could far excel their speaker in a discouse. In that 
country, I thought many ought to be pitied for their igno - 
ranee, and punished for their vices, for they appeared to de- 
spise good order and government; were self-willed and pre- 
sumptuous, speaking evil of rulers and of things which they 
did not understand; calling the soldiers abolitionists, Lin- 
coln hirelings and hell hounds, and were also threatening to 
resist the government, but when drafted, took to the brush 
like rabbits. 

In dark retreats they shunned the light, 
As doleful beasts and owls of night. 
In nearer wild where vagrants roam, 
Obtained a mild Canada home. 

While I was in Buck township, being confined most of 
one day with fever and flux, at night after the fever had 
left me and I was sitting up a while, the landlord and a 
young man working with him, had a curiosity to know 
where I was from, arid why I had left the south, and ap- 
peared astonishingly green with regard to the true state of 
things in that country, and the causes of it ; and were clam- 
oring against the northern administration. 

The young man talked in a very excitable manner, with 
as much fury and acrimony as I ever witnessed in the south 
among the most rabid secesh. He sentenced Lincoln and 



172 

his allies to certain perdition and said more hard things of 
the government than I could recollect in many days. He 
said we had no liberty of speech any more ; that Lincoln had 
violated the constitution, and trampled upon the rights of 
the people, and if any one said anything against the hellish 
policy, he was jerked up and put in prison, and tried con- 
trary to the constitution ; and there was not a worse despot- 
ism on the top of the globe ! Lincoln had assumed more 
power than the croAvned heads of Europe dare to do ; and 
if the draft that was then talked of took place, there would 
be no election for President at all, but Lincoln would pro- 
claim himself Emperor of the United States ; and many 
such like things he said. If I do not give his language 
verbatim, I give the sense conveyed to me, in his own words, 
as well as I can recollect. 

He went on to state that Lincoln had kicked the south- 
ern states out of the Union, and then had gone to murder- 
ing and plundering them, and stealing their negroes. He 
assumed that it was all done for the sake of the negroes. I 
told him he could not impose such stuff upon me, for I knew 
better. 1 knew that the leaders in the south were making 
arrangements for seceding, and had intentionally contrived 
matters so as to get a pretext for seceding, and they got the 
excuse they wanted ; and some of them boasted of having 
accomplished their object for a separation of the Union. 
And I knew that before Lincoln had anything to do with 
the government, and before the presidential election, calls 
were made and some volunteers were obtained, professedly 
for the purpose of going to prevent Lincoln from taking his 
seat at Washington, if elected. 

He said he did not like to dispute a man's word, but he 
would give me to understand that he did not think that was 
so, and asked something with regard to some other matters. 
I told him it appeared to be time for me to keep my mouth 
shut, for he had as much as told me that I lied, and I did 
not take much interest in conversation under such circum- 
stances. He said he did not aim to dispute my word. He 
supposed I thought it was so, but he had seen nothing of the 
kind in public print. I said there was no getting around it. 
as I had stated it as something that I knew, it was either a 
truth or a known, wilful falsehood, and nothing else could 
be made of it. 

But he kept on talking, and undertook to prove from the 



173 

Bible that slavery is right ; and censured and abused the 
government for meddling with ihe negroes. I made some 
remarks with regard to some rules in the Bible that he would 
do well to notice. 

He replied in an overbearing manner, " I know as well 
what's in the Bible as you do/' and went on with his hide- 
ous, brutish talk ; and, speaking of Lincoln and his allien, 
said hell was sure of all such men. 

I asked him if he was sure he was not on the way there 
himself, and told him he did not follow the advice of Solo- 
mon, nor the example of Elihu of old; and, toell as he was 
acquainted with the Bible, it was easy to see that he did 
not know what was referred to ; but, as he was so knowing, 
he needed no explanation. I remarked that if everybody 
that had talked against Lincoln was taken up for it, a great 
many more would be taken up than had been, and the pri- 
sons would be crowded with such people ; and I said I some- 
times felt that I would bo glad that the people who were 
complainings of hard times and no liberties in the country, 
had to try it a while under the southern government ; for if 
they were to take the same liberty there that they were do- 
ing here, they would soon be put where they would make no 
more noise ) for though I nad never taken the liberty to say 
half the hard things against that government that they had 
against this, I had been threatened with a rope; and, said 
I : "Though I claim to have as much and more reason to 
say evil things of the leaders of the south than you have 
against those here, yet no one has ever heard me make use 
of such language as you have been doing. If I had done so 
I would have been nothing the better for it. Such a course 
is only calculated to increase bad feelings, and to produce a 
worse state of things. If others have done wrong, reproach- 
ing and reviling make their past actions neither better nor 
worse, nor alters the case ] though it may provoke many to 
do worse than they would otherwise be disposed to do. And 
while we are all looking at, magnifying, quarrelling about 
and condemning the faults of others, and justifying our- 
selves, and indulging and glorying in our own faults, we have 
no reason to hope for much good to come to us. 

He said many innocent people had been taken up here and 
refused a lawful trial, &c. I said I knew nothing of those 
cases, but if he did, it was not my place to dispute and con- 
tradict the truth of it. 
*— 15 



174 

When he had calmed down and retired, I asked his age, 
and learned that he was qwte young to be so exceeding wise. 

Copperhead and all, the landlord treated me quite hospi- 
tably, for which I owe him a debt of gratitude and good will. 

And hope that by another spring, 
He'll leave the slough and be a king ; 
And when this happy change he makes, 
Will help to crush the poison snakes. 
Though evils do from mires flow, 
Good fruits abundant there may grow. 



News from the south, through a correspondent in south- 
ern Illinois, with dates of times when written and when re- 
ceived : 

Anna, 111., July 20, 1864. 

Mr. Feemster : — Wm. J is just in from Dixie. He 

said that T M was going to start north in a few 

days ; his wife was sick, or he wo aid have come with the 
crowd that started in June. Your family are anxious to 
hear from you. He said your family was all well, as far as 
he knew ; and if they were not, he thinks some of the boys 
would have said something about it as they were passing ; 

and T M had just been down to your house. 

Yours, J. F. T. 

This was received the first of August. 

Anna, 111., Aug. 22, 1864. 

Deab Sir : — Yours of came to hand in due time. 

We are all well. W R is at Centralia ; his broth- 
er F is on board the United States ship of war Susque- 

hana. He was captured in Georgia and volunteered in the 

navy. J C is here from Fayette ] he left on the 

18th of July. He says the rebs have killed all of our 
friends. They shot T. M. and his son H. They hung his 
wife till she told where he was. They made him go to old 
man J. R's, and they burnt his house and hung him. They 
went to M. R's, big B. P's, A. T's, H. P's, W. G's, P, M's 
and W. M's, and several others, and hung them all on Sun- 
day, the 17th of July. Some of them were hanging late on 
Monday evening when C. left the settlcm*^nt. 



175 

I have received news from J M , at Decatur, 

Ala., confirming the above. 

This was received on the 3d of September, 1864. The 
names were in full, where I give initials only. 

Anna, 111., Sept. 25, 1864. 
-D. J. Gr's family is here, just from Dixie. They say 



T. ]M. is not dead. They say the cavalry hung old man J. 
R., Mr, R. and W. P. They burned some houses. Mrs. Gr. 
saw the limb on which they were hung. They burnt the 
old man J. R's house and immodestly mutilated him before 
they hung him, and gave orders that if any buried him 
they should be hung. They did this murder on the 17th of 
July, being Sunday, and the old man hung on a walnut tree 
at his gate, till Tuesday night, when M. D. went by night 
and dug a hole in his garden and buried him, after the buz- 
zards had pulled out both his eyes. M. R's daughters cut 
him down and buried him, and Penington's family buried 
him. 

Sir, this is a true statement of the case, as Mrs. Gr. and 
Mrs. R., M. Tucker and several others, have seen their 
graves and the families. They took T. Mallory, and several 
others, to Tuscaloosa. They first reported that they had 
hung them, but these wemen say they have not. 

There desperadoes were legally commissioned. Captain 
Wm. Grodlden was in command of the squad, and had thir- 
ty men. Drake was lieutenant ; Col. Headen was in com- 
mand, with his headquarters at Fayette Court House. They 
were murdered for their loyalty. 

Your family are doing as well as could be expected. They 
are making straw hats. Those women say they heard no 
complaint from them, and if there was anything wrong they 
think they would have heard it. B. F. T. 

Received September 29, 1864. 

On the 29th of October I received a few lines from my 
son, mailed Memphis, Tenn., from which I. understood that 
he was a soldier, as I suppposed, drafted. This added an- 
other to the troubles and sources of care and anxiety in life. 
But I cherished the hope that it might be with me, as with 
Jacob of old, when he had to give up Benjamin, though, he 
said, all these things go against me, yet it was all for the 
best for him and his family. The latest from my sen was da- 
ted January 1st, '65. He wns about leaving Memphis for 
New Orleans. 



CHAPTER XI 

CAUSE, CURE AND PREVENTIVE OF DIVISION, 
CALAMITY. 

In my travels I have met with many people and things, I 
think, worthy of my respect and high esteem, which have 
been sources of comfort and encouragement to me. I also 
think I have seen a great deal of the reverse, which has 
been a source of trouble, disappointment and discourage- 
ment, which spre?.d a dark vail over the future, and filled 
the mind with painful apprehensions of what is yet to come. 
For the premonitions of Divine displeasure are not few. In 
some sections of country many are complainers, murmurers, 
with whom nothing in the natural, political or religious 
world appeared to be right. They find fault with the sea- 
sons, the rulers, the preachers, professors, and other people. 
"Can prove all creeds and actions wrong but their own ; 
their own most wrong." 

I have had occasion to remark that if one like Moses was 
set at the head of government, and acted according to the 
direction of God in all that he did, it would not please all 
the people ; but some would think he ought to be killed. 
Or if a man had the control of the weather, and caused it 
to be just as it is : in perfect accordance with the Divine 
will and direction, they would think he ought not to live; 
and of course if the works and ways of a perfectly holy, 
just and good Being cannot please the people, nothing that 
is just and right will. And it is not to be wondered at, if 
they are opposed to, and speak evil of good things and good 
people. 

1 have sometimes prevented disagreeable, and, to me, un- 
welcome conversation, by remarking that we are all Adam's 
children, and manifest the same disposition that we did 



177 

when- first called to an account for his disobedience. We 
are disposed to lay the blame of our calamities upon others 
when our own sins are the procuring cause. He said, "That 
woman !" I have endeavored to lead persons to the consid- 
eration of the vanity and unprofitableness of spending our 
time quarrelling about the wrong doinfs of others that we 
cannot alter nor prevent ; while we neglect to correct those 
of our own, and of those whom it is our duty to control, 
and by which we might do more good for ourselves and 
others than we could in any other way. 

The look and actions of some with whom I met, remind- 
ed me of some spoken of old, who were possessed of devils. 
Their language and disposition indicated some fearful de- 
rangement within. They were sharp to detect fault, and 
fierce in their accusations against others, while themselves 
were the servants of sin -, acting as if they thought they had 
license to indulge in the greatest crimes, without dishonor 
to themselves. A rough, irreverent and immoral manner of 
speech too generally prevails in most places I have visited. 
In too great a portion of our country, family govern- 
ment is, to a great extent, a practically insignificant thing. 
Children are growing up without proper restraint and con- 
trol, trained to habitual disobedience to parents, self-willed, 
presumptuous, despisers of government, impatient of re- 
straint, to be evil speakers and inventors of evil things, fit 
instruments to corrupt, overturn and destroy national gov- 
ernment. Or as natural brute beasts, to be taken and de- 
stroyed themselves. Covetousness, falsehood, deception, 
fraud, oppression, contempt of holy things, and forgetful- 
ness of God, have been to prevalent, both north and south. 
They have trampled upon His precepts, thrown down His 
altars, perverted judgment, profaned His Sabbaths, made 
His house a den of thieves. They have hated reproof, re- 
fused instruction, despised His counsel, hated knowledge, 
rejected His offers, slighted His invitations, disobeyed His 
commands, closed their eyes, stopped their ears, stiffened 
their necks, hardened their hearts, not desiring the knowl- 
edge of His ways. 

In consequence of these things the wrath of God has 
come upon the children of disobedience ; and not peace and 
harmony, but division and the sword have been sent upon 
the people of America, who have become a sinful nation, a 
people laden with iniquity, who have forgotten the Lord 



178 

and He also has forgotten their children, and has given them 
over to the sword. Hell has enlarged itself without meas- 
ure, and multitudes are descending into it. "He that being 
often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall be suddenly de- 
stroyed, and that without remedy.'^ 

Many were often reproved, and faithfully warned of that 
which should come as a snare upon the whole earth ; but, 
seeing, they did not perceive, and hearing, they did not un- 
derstand, till that which is written has come upon them. 
Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish. 

It was necessary that the loftiness of man should be hum- 
bled, and that the haughtiness of men should be brought 
low. And because the daughters of Zion were haughty, in- 
stead of their splendid mansions, profusion of delicacies, or- 
nament, perfume and gaudy attire, this prophecy has been 
fulfilled upon some of them. "Thy men shall fall by the 
sword, and the mighty in the war ; and her gates shall la- 
ment and mourn ) and she, being desolate, shall sit upon the 
ground." Isa. Ill, 25, 26. 

Here we have the primary cause of all o"r calamities. "Is 
there no balm in Grilead ? is there no physician there ? 
Why, then, is not the health of the daughter of my people 
recovered V Jer. VIII, 22. "Because they are all es- 
tranged from me through their idols.'' Eze. XIV, 6. "Ye 
have said it is vain to serve God, and what profit is it that 
we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mourn- 
fully before the Lord of hosts ? and now we call the proud 
happy ; yea, they that work wickedness are set up ; yea, 
they that tempt God are even delivered." Mai. III. "I 
also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears 
upon them. I will number you to the sword, and ye shall 
bow down to the slaughter ; because when I called ye did 
not answer ; when I spoke ye did not hear ; but did evil 
before mine eyes, and did those things wherein I delighted 
not." Isa. LXV, 12, and LXVI, 4. " Hast thou not pro- 
cured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord 
thy God, when He led thee by the way ? Thine own wick- 
edness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove 
thee. Know, therefore, and see that it is an evil thing and 
bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that 
my fear is not in thee." Jer. II, 16, 19. "What shall we 
do, then ?" Luke III, 10. " Return unto me, and I will 
return unto you, saith the Lord." Mai. Ill, 7 " Yea, let 



179 

them turn every one from his evil way, and from the vio- 
lence that is in their hands." Jonah, III, 8. ''If ye be 
willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land ) but 
if ye refuse and rebel ye shall be devoured, for the mouth 
of the Lord hath spoken it." Isa. I, 19, 20. 

Here the remedy is set before us, and the manner of using 
it. "Let us search and try our way, and turn again to the 
Lord." Lam. Ill, 40. "Come, let us return unto the Lord, 
far He hath torn and He will heal us ; He hath smitten and 
He will bind us up." Hos. VI, 1. He will be as a lamp to 
our feet and a light to our path. 

How completely is the way marked out for our safe return 
to peace and prosperity, and by which we may inherit the 
promise to the obedient. "Why art thou cast down, my 
soul ? and why art thou disquieted within me ? Hope thou 
in Grod, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his coun- 
tenance." Psa. XLI, 5, 11. "If a man's ways please the 
Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." 
Solomon. 

How important that we attend to that counsel, which, 
like the harbinger of Christ in the spirit and power of Elias, 
would turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and 
the hearts of the children to the fathers, and the disobedi- 
ent to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people pre- 
pared for the Lord." Mai IV, 6, Luke I, 17. 

When this is effected so as to lead the people to observe 
the moral and civil law, given to the chosen people of old, 
and to teach and enforce them with the some diligence and 
S'trictness with which they were then required to do it, which 
is the same thing that St. Paul calls "the nurture and ad- 
monition of the Lord," this would secure the peace pros- 
perity and happiness of our nation. Though the typical 
law, which was a shadow of the good things to come, has 
been fulfilled, and the shadow has ended in the substance, 
and the true light has come, yet the precepts of the moral 
law, and-the principles inculcated in the laws for the civil 
government of ancient Israel, are just as necessary for the 
maintenance of good order and the best interests of society 
now, as they were then. As they were better calculated to 
accomplish this object than anything that human wisdom 
could devise, so they are now. The greatest calamities they 
suffered then were in consequence of departing from those 
principles, and so they are yet. A conformity to those laws 



180 

secured prosperity and happiness then, and so it would now. 
Whatever system of government is the most efficient in pre- 
venting evil, and promoting the peace and happiness of so- 
ciety, is the best government. Who that is acquainted 
with human nature does not know that if the old law had 
been executed in our country, even to putting the ungovern- 
able son, the Sabbath breaker, blasphemer and murderer to 
death, and to the exaction of an eye for an eye and a tooth 
for a tooth, that the amount of damage, suffering and looo 
of life from crime, and the execution of criminals would 
not have been one-tenth part of what it has been, as mat- 
ters have been conducted. 

As it is the same unchangeable God, who is the Judge of 
all the earth and will do right, who still takes cognizance of 
the nations of the earth, and the relations his creatures sus- 
tain to him and to each other, are the same. The duties 
they owe to Him and to one another, are the same. In the 
nature of things, their comfort and welfare are as much de- 
pendent upon the performance of those duties. They are 
under as strong obligations to observe the rules best calcu- 
lated to secure the performance of those duties ; and a na- 
tion will be happy and prosperous in proportion as they do. 
or do not those duties. 

From the XXVIIth to the XXXIYth chapter of Deut. 
are set forth the curses, distresses and woful afflictions and 
calamities for disobedience, and the blessings, comforts and 
encouragement for obedience. In their obedience they 
were to be blessed in their family, person and property, and 
in all that they put their hand to ; but, in case of disob' di- 
ence, they were to be cursed in all these things. 

By performing and complying with the conditions upon 
which temporal and spiritual blessings were offered, they en- 
joyed both. Faith in the Messiah secured spiritual life, and 
obedience, which is its legitimate fruit, secured prosperity, 
a crown of glory and an inheritance, and a promise to their 
children. The same cause will secure the same results still. 
We have the Bible full of instruction suited to our case, to 
which if we attend, all will be healed in due time. We will 
seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and 
such things as are for our good will be added unto us. If 
we know these things happy are we, if we do them; but if 
we will not, then behold we have sinned, and be assured our 
sins will find us out, and the way of peace we shall not 



181 

know, but destruction and misery are in our way. The earth 
will disclose their blood and no more cover the slain, and 
their "blood shall be upon us and our children/' " That 
which brings forth briars and thorns is nigh unto cursing, 
whose end is to be burned/' 



THE EGYPTIAN SONG 

WRITTEN ABOUT THE TIME OF MY DEPARTURE FROM 
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. 



On Egypt's rugged hills I stand, 
And think of Dixie's ruined land, 
The happy scenes that come to mind. 
Their anxious eyes no more can find. 

They for the Lord too little care. 
And he an longer hears their prayer ; 
They have too long abused his grace, 
And now from them he hides his face. 

He has an ear for those that crave. 

And mighty is his arm to save ; 

'Gainst him their crimes have been so great, 

They from his mercy separate. 

Sodom's and Egypt's crimes they know. 
This fact their features plainly show, 
In those black crimes which they have wrought, 
They still persist and hide them not. 

By Egypt's plagues and Sodom's woe. 
They should have learned their doom to know. 
And by those omens understand 
What still awaits their guilty land. 
-16 



182 

Whence here to Egypt many fly, 
And mourn and sicken, droop and die, 
Egyptian darkness here they feel, 
Of negroes hear peal upon peal, 

Here copperheads are thick as fleas, 
Say copperheads and whisky bees. 
Yea, butternuis, and such as these. 
Are full of spite at refugees. 

They wish the negroes dead indeed. 
Much rather than to have them freed ; 
Would rather have the land destroyed, 
Than negroes in the war employed. 

At Abe they curse, and rage, and grin, 
As throbs a traitor's heart within ; 
They love for Davis much to say. 
For him to save us lie and pray. 

Their solemn oaths they freely break, 
As they the Union ranks forsake. 
And back to Egypt's hills they come. 
To hide in holes away from home. 

The friends of those that run away, 
How oft we hear them falsely say : 
"The woes that on the nation fall — 
'T was Lincoln's war that caused them all.'^ 

And, to make the charge look bigger, 
Say he did it for the nigger ; 
For this is all they ever see : — 
'T was done to set the negro free. 

If black and white are equal made. 
The land in ruins must be laid j^ 
As for their life they cannot see, 
How justice makes a negro free. 

Though they do murder swear and curse, 
Of demons none were ever worse ; 
To them it still is clear as day, '''•wTM^y 
No negro can be good as they. ' * ' ^\ 



183 

And now, to cap and crown the whole, 
Some say a negro has no soul. 
At this a Foundland dog might laugh — 
One with a soul and one with half ! 

Has not an ass got wit to see, 
What a mulatto's part must be ? 
But be it wicked or unwise, 
They oft are sold as merchandise. 

In high places many figure. 
By the sale of mule and nigger ; 
The funds of others much increase, 
With price of brother, son and neice. 

The white is best, who dare disptue? 
The black has been his prostitute ; 
And sure, here m asign of good : 
They those can sell who show their blood. 

AVith these they make a bright display. 
For half-souled negroes all are they. 
How great the white, it can't be said, 
So thinks the bright, the copperhead. 

And after all we here unfold, 
One thousandth part has not been told ; 
Though '-Satan trembles when he sees" 
A righteous negro on his knees — 

The copperhead can hard remain, 
And of the waste of time complain. 
Would you their inward temper know ? 
There is a way that truth to show : 

They are as demon's, raging mad. 
If one with truth is heard to say : 
A negro — though not half ^o bad, — 
Is equally as good as they. 



Their wicked actions on them tell, 
That they are heirs of death and hell 
How sick'ning then the sight to see, 
How very good theyclaim to be ? 



184 

Behold how lofty is their aim ! 

To more than saint they make a claim. 

To many of the negro race 

The Lord extends his saving grace. 

The bread that down from heaven came, 
To endless life gives them a claim, 
To them he gives release from sin, 
A heart renewed to dwell within. 

And by their works they oft record 
The grace of their redeeming Lord, 
When in the dust their bodies lie, 
Their souls shall rise above the sky. 

The battle fought, the victoi-y won, 
They shine in glory as the sun. 
Some this presume to their own shame, 
They are their Maker's highest aim. 

Pretense like these those whites have made, 
They are of men the highest grade. 
And have it so they surely will. 
On them he lavished all his skill. 

But they themselves too little know, 
This truth their actions plainly show, 
The depth of guile that in them lies, 
Is little seen with blinded eyes. 

As they the Lord did not obey. 
He never cleansed their sins away. 
How dreadful then will be their woe, 
When what they are they truly know. 

The place they oecupy in hell, 
How God approves will truly tell. 
When as they are themselves they view, 
Amid a lost and wailing crew. 

With devils damned and negroes base, 
And all the vile of Adam's race. 
Will not they say to all who see, 
Oh ! clear the way for wretched me ? 



185 

Give way ye base and let me low, 
For I am worse tlian you 1 know; 
Oh ! guide me to the darkest place, 
And hide me from the Judge's face. 

May my abode there always be, 
Where I his glory cannot see ; 
Might rocks and mountains on me fall, 
So I could not be found at all. 

Oh ! awful state of deep despair, 
Where hosts of wretched spirits are ; 
Who much beguiled by self-esteem, 
Had such a wild and foolish dream, 

They saw a mer?t on the skin, 
But little thought of worth within ; 
Thus in their hue they saw a worth, 
Which never grew from gracious birth. 

Their hue they thought gave state so ^h 
All grace hath wrought no such can buy ; 
Then let the living warning take. 
And proper preparations make, 

Before their days of mercy close. 
And they be doomed to ceaseless woes ; 
Nor let them lose a moment's time, 
Nor make excuse for any crime. 

Nor ever boast of hue or race, 
But trust alone to sovereign grace, 
For this can end all foolish strife, 
To every color give new life. 

Yes, this can stop all wicked claims. 
And fill the soul with righteous aims, 
Which leads of evil to repent. 
And makes with right to be content. 

Which all to peace and comfort tend, 
And bring about a happy end. 
Now let us all this course pursue. 
And grace will guide us safely through 
* — 16 



186 
A REFUGEE'S PARODY. 

On Egypt's lofty hills I stand, 

And cast a thoughtful eye, 
To Dixie's drear and wretched land. 

Whence friends of Union fly. 

Oh ! the unbroken, cruel scene, 

That rises to my sight. 
There rabid rebs from country glean 

The men for them to fight. 

There men as beasts where mercy fails, 

To scenes of carnage go. 
And rocks and hills, and brooks and vales, 

With blood and murder flow. 

Through ail those wide and bloody plains, 

Shines one infernal ray, 
Where Jefferson the rebel reigns, 

And drives all peace away. 

No healing wind or peaceful breath. 
Can reach this blighted shore. 

Wickedness, terror, pain and death. 
Prevail the kingdom o'er. 

When I shall reach that captured place, 
With friends and kindred blessed, 

To share the fond and kind embrace. 
Of those I once caressed. 

If cheered with news of such a kind, 

I could here no longer stay. 
But leaving copperheads behind. 

Go joyfully away. 

If they again would peace restore. 

Invited back to come, 
Though copperheads behind me roar, 

I soon should be at home. 



187 

THE PARTING SCENE. 

How sad and solemn was the day, 
I left my home and went away, 

It made my heart feel sore, 
To leave my friends and kindred near, 
A lovely wife and children dear, 

With all to meet no more. 

The light of day away had passed, 
The vail of night was o'er us cast, 

A bosom heaving band, 
As each in kind and faithful aid, 
A hasty preparation made, 

To take the parting hand. 

Amid the scene of haste and care. 
Arrived the time of holding prayer, 

Isaiah's tenth was read ; 
Though quite descriptive and sublime, 
Much suited well the present time, 

As if to us 'twas said. 

Swiftly the moment's passed away, 
That brought the time to read and pray, 

And seek for aid divine; 
Give thanks to God for mercies past. 
And ask his guidance to the last, 

All to his care resign. 

May he o'er heart and life preside. 
With truth and graceforever guide, 

Till we are called to die ; 
And if on earth we meet no more, 
May we beyond this gloomy shore. 

Meet round his throne on high. 

The Holy Father's happy home. 
Where grief and trouble never come, 

Forever there remain ; 
His glory view through endless days. 
Sing highest anthems to his praise. 

And know that all is gain. 



188 

Oil, may we, if it be thy will, 
All meet to dwell together still, 

The righteous race to run ; 
But if we cannot this obtain, 
May all the loss to us be gain, — 

Thy righteous will be done. 

Where'er we stay, where'er we roam, 
In distant lands or near at home. 

Till we shall meet again. 
The grace of him in whom we died. 
To holy life and victory guide, 
Be thine the praise, Amen. 

The evening prayer is ended now, 
Oh, as we were no more to bow. 

Again to work we turn ] 
The stream of time glides swiftly by, 
The parting scene is drawing nigh, 

And hearts will in us burn. 

Attention now again is drawn, 
It is to notice little John, 

For it Wcis softly said, 
As one to me did kindly tell : 
"He wishes you to bid farewell. 

And then to go to bed." 

He upward turned his little face. 
As we enjoyed the last embrace. 

And took the parting kiss. 
Oh, how it moved my inmost heart, 
Thus with the tender child to par', 

At such a time as this. 

Then on his head my hand I laid, 
And silently to heaven prayed. 

That God the child would bless. 
That he would store him well with grace, 
To fill in life some useful place, 

Enrobed in righteousness. 

I saw no more of little John, 
For very soon the child was gone. 
And was composed in sleep ; 



189 

While all the rest together stand, 
And kindly press the parting hand. 
But none were heard to weep. 

Though feeling deep possessed the heart, 
And prospects sad increased the smart, 

Above all said before ; 
The thing that yet would give us pain, 
Was told in words both faint and plain, 

We all shall meet no more. 

The parting scene I must regard, 
While standing in the homestead yard, 

Beneath a spreading oak ; 
Mid hearts with painful prospects rent, 
And anxious thoughts that wanted vent, 

Though few the words we spoke. 

The best advice 1 then could give, 
Was all in Christ to try to live, 

Though union here must cease; 
And we assunder stiil must stay, 
Till some by death are called away, 

We yet shall meet in peace. 

The things that most impressed my mind, 
Upon my wife I then enjoined : 

To train the children right. 
The words we last together spoke. 
Were heard beneath the spreading oak, 

Near nine o'clock at night. 



'&' 



(The night before the oldest son. 
From friend and native land had run, 

To keep his hands from blood, 
And thus escape confederate hws, 
That called to aid in treason's cause. 

And give insult to God.) 

The state in which I then was placed, 
Bequired care and watchful haste. 

To shun the rebel foe. 
The moon had showed her solemn 'face, 
And lunar day shined o'er the place. 

While I from home did go. 



190^ 

The parting scene I can't forget 
Tis brilliant in my memory yet, 

For this my heart is sore : 
Then last I saw a daughter's face, 
Who now is held in death's embrace, 

On earth we meet no more. 

Her careful eyes and thoughtful brow, 
In vision rise before me now, 

As they did there appear ; 
Herself to me she cannot show, 
But I to her must shortly go, 

With friends and kindred dear. 

If in the Savior's happy home, 
She is to rest till we shall come, 

Why should I sigh or mourn ? 
While here a stranger round I roam, 
In distant lands awiiy from home, 

From friends and kindred torn. 

I still would wait upon the Lord, 
Confiding in his holy word. 

May I no duty shun ; 
While I my calling will fulfill. 
And suffer all his righteous will, 

Till I my race have run. 

Nor from mine object turn my eyes, 
Till I by grace have won the prize, 

Nor once at ease sit down, 
Till every foe is conquered quite; 
And I have fought the victor's fight. 

And well secured a crown. 



THE WANDERING REFUOEE. 

How oft my busy thoughts do fly, 
To view the place where kindred lie, 
Who crossed cold Jordon's waves -, 



191 

Where oft beneath the forest shade, 
In youth I read and sang and prayed, 
But now a place of graves. 

Just in that place or one near by, 
The old and young together lie, 

The leader and the lead ; 
Who once in life had prospects fair. 
In joy and sorrow both did share. 

But now are with the dead. 

With whom I spent my youthful days. 
And shared their night and morning lays. 

And joined in solemn prayer; 
Those who had watched my infant sleep, 
My youth in ways of truth did keep, . 

And thus for good prepare. 

And some for whow I did the same, 
To train for him from whom they came, 

There together lie. 
With branches of the ancient stock. 
And members of my father's flock. 

And those to us less nigh. 

Those ancient ones their race have run. 
Though they their task on earth have done, 

Their labors are not gone. 
For plainly where their offspring go. 
They there their righteous training show. 

And thus their works go on. 

And those who train as God decreed, 
Shall all be honored by their seed. 

This truth they well shall know ; ^ 
That those who children rightly train, 
Shall see their labor was not vain, 

That they shall rightly go. 

And though the fathers all are dead, 
Their labors still shall go ahead, 

To make the saints complete ; 
AVhen time her course has fully run. 
With all their works on earth have done. 

They shall at judgmeet meet. 



192 

How sweet the rest of young and old, 
Of whom I here have something told, 

If they in Jesus sleep, 
Away from scenes of war and dread, 
That through a sinful land have spread, 

Where thousands groan and weep. 

The Lord my life doth still prolong, 
And lead my heart to solemn song, 

As homeless here I stay ; 
Where'er the Lord my lot may cast. 
Until his wrath he over, passed, 

And I am called away. 

Now oft my heart is full of care. 
And then goes forth in fervent prayer, 

To all my friends at home ) 
While on the Lord I still depend, 
And wonder where the scene will end, 

And I shall cease to roam. 

Departed friends still come to mind, 
And cause me oft to feel inclined. 

As one of old did crave ; 
Where those the Lord hath greatly blessed, 
Do now from pain and labor rest. 

That there may be my grave. 

Where oft was found a calm retreat, 
In winter mild and summer's heat, 

To be alone a while. 
To read the sacred pages o'er, 
The Lord for grace divine implore, 

And seek a Savior's smile. 

In calm retreat and silent shade, 

Were night and morning offerings made. 

Where none but God could hear ; 
His needful grace thus to derive. 
Sad evils from the heart to drive, 

And make it all sincere. 

Nor his good spirit thence withhold, 
Nor leave to sin and Satan sold, 
Forsaken and alone. 



193 

But there his kingdom will maintain, 
O'er all within forever reigns, 
And keep it for his own. 

With holy light all through it shine, 
To keep in sight the will divine. 

His image there impressed. 
Till all the task of life is done, 
And ends the race beneath the sun. 

Then take me home to rest. 

With him who once was crucified, 
And in the room of sinners died. 

Their just desert to bear; 
To raise them from the depths of woe, 
To them his wonderous grace to show. 

All things with him to heir. 



A PROSPECTIVE SCENE. 

THE FIRST PART WAS AVRITTEN ABOUT THE BEGINNING 
OF THE WAR. 

Lo ! in a wide extended plain, 

Not ruled by righteous law. 
Where most unhallowed passions reign, 

A mighty host I saw, 

In wrath and spite and hellish strife, 

With mortal hate engage, 
And woful scenes and loss of life, 

Fill the historic page. 

While far around from side to side, 

From low and high degree. 
Did freely flow the crimson tide, 

To form one common sea. 

Where mangled heaps of low and high, 
Of every hue and class, 
—17 



194 

Bisolved in putrefaction lie, 
All moldering in a mass ', 

Where vapors foul pollute the air, 
Was once their dying groans, 

Now holllow skulls that widely stare, 
And mangled, naked bones. 

Whence strife and toil and life are fled, 

And all their mortal pains, 
The wasting slumbers of the dead, 

A mournful sight remains. 

Where once was mode the dying prayer. 
Mid doleful groanings round. 

Which did most solemnly declare. 
That God on man had frowned. 

Of such a scene as this beware. 

When in the field of blood. 
An awful season to prepare. 

To meet an angry God. 

Now do you ask the reason why 
Doth God with anger burn ? 

Unto his holy word apply. 
And there the reason learn. 

SECOND PART. 

His precepts there in order stand. 
As saints of old did oft rehearse. 

And those who break his wise command, 
Incur his wrath and woful curse. 



Those who by parents lightly set, 

And can their rightful claims despise, 

Their blood must pay the awful debt, 
And birds of prey pick out their eyes. 

Their blood the thirsty fowls refresh. 
That come from far the feast to share, 

And hungry beasts consume their flesh, 

Once pampered much with pride and care. 



195 

The Lord in judgment on them roared, 
Again their flesh to dust be sent, 

Declining strength of earth restored, 
Which they in pride and folly spent. 

And thus the Lord in judgment reigns, 
And brings the proud and lofty low, 

The way of wicked men restrains, 
And makes the unbelieving know- 

The Lord among the nations rules. 
And order from confusion brings, 

Gives sober sense to crazy fools, 

And humbles haughty, wicked kings. 

To their right mind again restored, 
When all ambitious hopes are lost, 

To be at peace they can afford, 

When wealth and life have paid the cost. 

The terms they once could not admit, 

As either wise, or just or good, 
They tamely now to them submit, 

When signed and sealed with human blood. 



ERRATA. 

Explanation. — t stands for line from the top, and b from the 
bottom of the page. 

On the 3d line tp 15, for excuses read exercises ; on the 14th 1 tp 
1*7, insert, after a subject of, and 8th b p read I for and. On the 
6th line t p 20, for the read this. 2d 1 t p 23, for oh read ah, and 
5th 0. 15th 1 b p 23, for the read their. 1st 1 p 25, read him af- 
ter sought. 22nd 1 t p 25, read so intolelable. 5th 1 t p 27, for 
policy read felicity; 1 21st t p, for me read one. 6th 1 of prose t 
p 28, omit and after devilish ; in 8th 1 add d to practice; read pis- 
tol for Bible in last verse. 9th 1 t p 30, read one not ones ; llth 
b p 30, omit and. 14th 1 b p 34, omit and ; and 3d b p, read with- 
out, 23d 1 p 35, for is read are. 4th 1 b p 37, for of read for, 
18th 1 t p 41, lacks the quotation mark. 6th 1 t p 42, for hallow 
read hollow ; in last 1 p 42, for void read vain. 21st 1 b p 45, for 
one read persons; llth lb p 50of prose, for pure; read poor. 
Two lines at bp 50, lacks the quotation mark; 18th 1 t p 51, for 
Christ read church. 9th 1 b p 55, for may read any. 18th 1 p 62, 
for beefsteak read brutish. 3d 1 b p 63, for there read these. Af- 
ter rule in the 4th 1 b p 64, the great specific in, is left out. 1st 1 
t p 65, for fork tongued read forked. 6th 1 t p 65, for exposed 
read expressed. On 2d and 3d 1 t p 71, read but for she, and let 
her, after to ; 19th 1 t p 71, for him by, read by him for. 3d 1 t p 
73, omit that. 5th 1 p 74, read nearly. 19 t p 76, add called af- 
ter were; and 18th 1 b p, for whose lives read which. In 2d verse 
of poem p 81, for wars transpire read war to inspire ; 1st line of 
3d verse, for furthermore read for their own ; the first line of 6th 
verse should end with s ; the 4th should have a, not to. 2d 1 t p 
82, for present read pleasure ; 7th of prose tp 82,addof the ocean, 
after bottom ; and in the 16th t p, read confederate before states. 
8th 1 b p 83, for escape read cease. 15th 1 t p 85, for we read who. 
20th b p 86, add in favor, before of. 6th 1 t p 88, for wanted to 
read would. 14th from b p 88, read and for I. 5th 1 t p 100, for 
morning read evening; and 12 b p, read was for is ; omit and in 
18th. Read and for I, 17 1 b p 101. 12th 1 t p 102, read I for and. 
10th 1 b p 109, for Street read Stut ; and on 4th 1 b p read church. 
14th 1 t p 110, omit sold. 3d 1 b p 111, for clean read doth clear. 
2d 1 t p 112, read and for or. 19th It p 120, add as, after and. 
18th 1 bp 120, for 1 read and ; close with same and begin the next 
paragraph thus: Whether from curiosity or otherwise. 7th 1 t p 
121, for get read set, and add him. l7th 1 t p, for a read I ; from 
4th to 9th I's b p, should have been left out. I7th 1 b p IM, omit 
we. 15th 1 b p 128, read Beraent ; 12th 1 b p Bondurents ; 6th 1 
from b p read thus for I think. 6th 1 t p 129, for Etmire's read 
Etnire's where I. 13th 1 b p 131 Funderburg's- 19 1 b p 134, 
read from Villa, &c. 1st 1 on p 140, begin with Z ; and in 9th tp, 
read woe ; begin last line of 4th verse with Gone. 5th 1 t p 143 
read troubling; and 18th t p, read hill. I71h t p 144, omit had. 
In 3d 1 of 1st verse p 148, omit and, insert a comma. 19th 1 t p 
150, read of. 14th 1 b p 152, omit no. To 5th 1 t p 155, prose, 
add written. Last 1 3d verse p 186, for flow read strow; 1st 1 6th v 
same p for when I shall, read when shall I, &c. 







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